For a limited time only the European Museum Forum is re-opening the European Museum of the Year Award 2012 competition, in order to provide the opportunity to apply for the revised Council of Europe Museum Prize. The closing date for applications is 16 June 2011

In 2012, the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Over the years, EMYA has proven to be the longest running and most prestigious museum award in Europe and it continues to be the most important occasion for promoting innovative museum practice and public quality in the European museum sector.

The competition also includes the unique and prestigious Council of Europe Museum Prize which has been running alongside EMYA since its foundation in 1977. For EMYA 2012, EMF and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have been working closely on reinforcing its European dimension and highlighting the need to preserve and promote European cultural heritage.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the EMF on the Council of Europe Museum Prize was signed in Strasbourg on 31 May 2011.

We hereby invite European museums to submit applications for this limited period of time. Please see detailed information on and guidelines for EMYA and the Council of Europe Museum Prize.

The museums that have already applied for EMYA 2012 do not have to re-apply, as they are also eligible for the Council of Europe Museum Prize.

If you have any queries or require more information please write to Doric McMillan, EMF Administrator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Competition Regulations (pdf)

Application Form (doc)