Sixteenth National Museum Education Year Opening Ceremony – Top museum educators acknowledged
1 October 2018, Szolnok – Award for Excellence in Museum Education, and Excellent Museum Educator Award for outstanding individual achievement, the most prestigious acknowledgments of Hungarian museum education were handed over at Aba-Novák Agora Cultural Centre by Péter Fekete Secretary of State responsible for culture. Awards were also handed over by Hajnal Kassai, Head of Public Collections Division, Ministry for Human Capacities, Ferenc Szalay, Mayor of Szolnok, Dr László Horváth, Vice President, Association for Hungarian Rural Museums, Dr. Ibolya Bereczki, Deputy General Director, Hungarian Open Air Museum, responsible for departmental tasks, and last but not least Magdolna Nagy acting Director of Museum Education and Methodology Centre.
Ever since its foundation in 2003, the Award for Excellence in Museum Education has been regarded the most prestigious professional acknowledgement in Hungarian museum education. It recognises museum education teams of museums whose museum education / knowledge transfer programmes or initiatives are assessed as outstanding achievement. The awards are handed over every year at the National Museum Education Year Opening Ceremony, which is also the kick-off event of the Autumn Festival of Museums. At the ceremonial event organised by the Museum Education and Methodology Centre, Hungarian Open Air Museum and Damjanich János Museum, Szolnok, three museums received the Award for Excellence in Museum Education, one museum was handed over a Certificate of Merit, and a special prize issued by the Association for Hungarian Rural Museums.
In 2018, on the basis of the evaluation of the applications, the jury consisting of Hungarian museum experts, gave the Award for Excellence in Museum Education to Rómer Flóris Museum of Art and History to recognise the project “Artworks vs. Connoisseurs – Adventures of trainee artists in the Patkó Imre Collection”, which assists subjective reception and interpretation of 20th century art by using simple tools and building on participants’ activity.
Among the prize winners was the programme package titled “Guess my trade” Tatabányai Museum and Industrial Skanzen. The structure of the programme and the booklet linked to it are entirely suitable to kindergarten age.
The “Museum-in-a-suitcase” programme of the Hungarian Open Air Museum also received the Award for Excellence in Museum Education. The programme transfers museum knowledge and that of the society to school communities which are not able to participate in Skanzen based museum education sessions. According to the reasons given by the jury, it is a pedagogically well thought out programme, and as it is expressly adaptable and also free of charge, it is an outstanding example of inclusion of disadvantaged groups.
For the programme linked to the 500th anniversary of Reformation and to Vajdaság, titled "Here I stand, I can do no other", the Museum of Topolya Village was awarded a “Certificate of Merit, and a special prize of HUF 100 000 offered by the Association for Hungarian Rural Museums. According to the reasons given by the jury, the programme is a outstanding example of innovative ways, involving children, and applying up-to-date tools.
More information about the 12 innovative museum education programmes submitted on the call for applications for the Award for Excellence in Museum Education is accessible on the following link:
http://mokk.skanzen.hu/beerkezett-palyazatok-2018.html
The Excellent Museum Educator Award established by the Hungarian Open Air Museum, and awarded for the first time in 2014, given biannually during the National Museum Education Year Opening Ceremony. The award recognises museum educators who have created and implemented excellent museum education method or programme or published material. This year the expert jury found Emese Joó worthy of recognition. As a museum educator and ethnographer, she continuously reflects on contemporary museum and social phenomena. By asking tolerant, open, creative, insightful questions, and standing up for her ideas, she has been a determining trend setter and awareness raiser in the Hungarian museum education scene. She is doing a doctoral course at present, she shares her knowledge as a university teacher and also at numerous professional workshops. Being an experienced mentor, she has assisted several young colleagues at the beginning of their museum education career, and has provided inspiration to her co-workers and students.
The award ceremony was followed by a conference titled “Museum? It runs in the family.” In the conference linked to the “Year of the Family”, museum professionals and teachers could have an insight into museums’ attitude to family programmes, and how they can inspire dialogue between different generations, and help families spend their free time together in a museum environment.
Further information:
Andrea Kontrohr, head of communication
Museum education and Methodology Centre, Hungarian Open Air Museum
Museum and library development for everyone
Ph: +36 30 322 5708
