NEMO congratulates all winders and nominees of the award but are especially pleased two see two familiar names in the list. At the NEMO European Museum Conference 2025: Who cares? Museums, wellbeing, and resilience, participants were invited to visit Den Gamle By in Aarhus, Denmark. At the 2023 edition, and… ACTION! Museums in the climate crisis, participants got to enjoy a reception and special tours at the Museum of Visual Arts Malva in Lahti, Finland.
In their motivation for the European Museum of the Year Award, the European Museum Forum states that the Den Gamle By. National Open-Air Museum of Urban History and Culture “is a pioneering institution that brings together historical and contemporary urban environments to address urgent contemporary questions, including migration, sustainability and social justice. Through its deeply embedded co creation with local communities and innovative initiatives that link historical knowledge with ecological action, the museum offers a forward thinking model for urban cultural institutions. Building on this work, it sets a new benchmark for innovation, relevance, and public impact in the museum sector through outreach and long-term relationships with local residents. It reimagines the open-air museum genre as a vibrant platform for dialogue, reflection, and action.”
The Museum of Visual Arts Malva was awarded the Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability for “embedding environmental responsibility across its practice, shaping both its curatorial direction and organisational culture. This commitment is reflected in its exhibition-making and in an ethos grounded in collaboration, efficiency, and long-term thinking. Through its public programmes and actions, the museum encourages reflection on the broader relationships between culture, environment, and daily life. In doing so, it sets a compelling benchmark for how museums can contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable future.”
- Learn more about all winners and nominees
