Great news! The Sybir Memorial Museum has been chosen to host this year’s annual conference and awards ceremony for the European Museum of the Year 2025 (EMYA). From May 21 to May 25, 2025, the city of Białystok will become the European capital of museology.

“The possibility of organizing this event is the result of the fact that the Sybir Memorial Museum won the Council of Europe Museum Award 2024. It is a great honor for Białystok and an excellent opportunity to show the world the richness of our heritage, our multiculturalism, hospitality and commitment to promoting European values, such as tolerance, cooperation and respect for history,” said Tadeusz Truskolaski, Mayor of the city of Białystok, during a press meeting.

“I am proud to have initiated actions that contributed to the fact that the Sybir Memorial Museum received the Museum Award of the Council of Europe in 2024 and I am glad that in May we will be able to host all the most important museums in Europe here in Bialystok. Thanks to this, the whole world will once again talk about the Sybir Memorial Museum,” added Krzysztof Truskolaski – Member of Parliament, Vice-chairman of the Polish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Chairman of the Council of the Sybir Memorial Museum.

The initiative, organized by the European Museum Forum (EMF), will take place this year under the slogan “Memory and Solidarity for Collective Action.” The event will bring together the EMYA community, including representatives of institutions that in the past applied for the award, been nominated, or received it, as well as partners and experts from the museum sector.

From May 21 to 25, participants will have the opportunity to take part in inspiring panel discussions, workshops, and debates focused on innovations and best practices in the museum sector. One of the key goals of the conference will be to develop innovative strategies in response to contemporary challenges and to create a space for dialogue and education for the community.

The first day of the event, May 21, will be entirely dedicated to the Sybir Memorial Museum. On this day, a special guided tour of the permanent exhibition will take place, accompanied by a meeting with witnesses to history – Sybiraks. The program will also include thematic discussions and the opportunity to explore Białystok with a certified guide. On May 25, participants will have a chance to discover the region and visit places such as Białowieża, Tykocin, and Supraśl.

“Hosting the annual conference and the awards ceremony of the European Museum of the Year 2025 is undoubtedly a great distinction for our city and the Sybir Memorial Museum. It is particularly important in the current situation, when there is a war going on behind our eastern border. From Białystok, we are sending a unified message to our partners across Europe – our history must be told together. This year’s theme, ‘Memory and Solidarity for Collective Action,’ reflects the core values of both the Museum and our city. We are proud that Europe’s most important museum gathering will take place right here in Białystok,” said Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum.

During this year’s edition of the conference, 42 museums from 18 countries, nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award 2025 (EMYA), will present themselves and showcase their achievements. As part of the ceremony, two of Europe’s most prestigious awards will be presented: the European Museum of the Year Award and the Council of Europe Museum Prize.

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) is the most prestigious annual award in the European museum sector. The award was established in 1977 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to recognise the best museums in Europe. Its aim is to support, promote and reward innovation in museums and activities that support democratic values ​​and human rights.

The Council of Europe Museum Prize, which was awarded to the Sybir Memorial Museum in 2024, has also been presented since 1977. It recognizes institutions that promote European values such as human rights, diversity and intercultural dialogue.

Detailed information about this year’s edition of the conference and the European Museum of the Year Award 2025 ceremony can be found at: www.emya2025bialystok.com and www.sybir.bialystok.pl.