Solidarity Center in Gdańsk awarded Europe Museum Prize 2016

The Council of Europe Museum Prize for 2016 has been awarded to the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk.  A shortlist of three museums was selected from 49 candidates. According to the reporter on the Museum Prize in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Vesna Marjanovic, this museum is “a fascinating example of a cultural institution working to promote freedom and solidarity. The events it recounts and its program make it a forum for modern Europe. It succeeds in making the history of the trade union Solidarność a powerful and moving source of inspiration for civic engagement and action. The center connects history with life and makes a direct link between culture and democracy." The Council of Europe Museum Prize forms part of the European Museum of the Year Awards (EMYA). It has been awarded annually since 1977 to a museum judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding of European cultural heritage in uniting the Council of Europe’s 47 member states.