The first special commendation goes to a museum that pays homage to one of the most prominent national figures of the 19th century, whose actions are celebrated as symbols of national freedom, liberation, and progress. In the spirit of this legacy, the museum invites its visitors to reflect on the historical struggles and draws inspiration from them to tackle the contemporary challenges of society.
Thirty-three museums from eighteen Council of Europe member states took part in this 46th annual competition of the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) programme.
EMYA provides a forum for celebrating the potential of museums to contribute to social transformation and democratization, by adapting and providing valuable responses to the needs and challenges of contemporary society.
The EMYA 2023 jury had the privilege of visiting all the museums that were nominated for the awards.
The museums that emerged as winners in EMYA 2023 are remarkable in their ability to achieve excellence across all aspects of their work, while simultaneously pushing boundaries and driving innovation. Through their commitment to openness, accessibility, and participatory practices, they strive to challenge traditional notions of what a museum is and who it serves.
As one of unit of the Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums, the Ilia Chavchavadze Literary-Memorial Museum is named after one of the most prominent public figures of the second half of 19th century in Georgia – Ilia Chavchavadze. Ilia Chavchavadze devoted himself to developing the Georgian public, political and economic life.
The museum is dedicated to preserving the historical significance and memory of Georgia’s social, political, and cultural life during the 19th century – and Ilia Chavchavadze’s contribution to the country’s European aspirations. Chavchavadze transformed the house he lived in into a gathering place for a progressively minded community and a centre of important ongoing processes of the country. In this spirit, the Ilia Chavchavadze Literary-Memorial Museum shaped its mission: to enable visitors to reflect on the historical struggles and to be a welcoming and empowering place for contemporary Georgian society.
Four-year rehabilitation-conservation and adaptation works at Ilia Chavchavadze Literary-Memorial Museum allowed to preserve one of the most important buildings of Georgian historical heritage with outstanding historical and architectural value.
Ilia Chavchavadze Literary-Memorial Museum of the Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums went through the rehabilitation works in 2017-2018, while in 2019-2020 the Museum spaces, memorial rooms, exhibits, and different belongings characterizing the epoch went through the restoration and preservation process. On September 24, 2021, the museum was opened to spectators and visitors. The Union of Tbilisi Museums applied for the 2023 competition in 2022, and the selection process lasted for a year.
Implemented rehabilitation works, first of all, eliminated the difficult physical condition of the building of historical significance.
Renovated Museum is especially important in the context of modern Georgia’s European aspirations since it clearly illustrates that before Sovietization, Georgia was an integral part of European culture, and today’s aspirations to the European Union roots back to this house.
Two Georgian museums participated in the 2023 European Museums Forum, the Union of Museums of Tbilisi – Ilia Chavchavadze Literary Memorial Museum and the National Museum of Georgia – Otar Lortkifanidze Vani Archaeological Museum. who was awarded one of the prestigious prizes of the competition – the Silleto Prize.
The EMYA2023 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony took place in Barcelona, from 3 to 6 May 2023.
Organised by the European Museum Forum and hosted by MUHBA – Museu Historia de Barcelona, the EMYA2023 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony brought together members of the EMYA community including former candidates, partners and friends, in addition to the EMYA2023 nominee museums.
