Europe's most prestigious museum award owners to be named in Sakıp Sabancı Museum.

The evaluation meeting of the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA), one of Europe’s most prestigious museum awards, took place at the S.U. Sakıp Sabancı Museum between 26-28 November 2010. The judging committee consisting of European leading professionals convened at SSM to name “the museum of the year 2010”. The fact that the meeting, sponsored by Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, is held in Turkey is deemed “prestige” in the global museum scene.

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) was founded in 1977 under the auspices of the Council of Europe, with the aim of recognizing excellence at the European museum scene and encouraging innovative processes. EMYA has influenced in a positive manner the lives of a number of museum professionals and has brought, into the center stage, small museums with highly innovative contents, which otherwise would not have received recognition.

The competition, for which museums of any size, type or legal position from any of the 47 countries being currently members of the Council of Europe are eligible to apply, focuses on the contribution of the museums’ progress on enterpreunership and innovation to the national and international museum scene. EMYA Awards are categorized as “European Museum Award”, “Kenneth Hudson”, “Siletto” and “Special Prize”.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Museum of Anatolian Civilizations had received "EMYA Award" in 1997 while the Istanbul Modern Museum was granted with the "Special Mention Award" in 2007. The Turkish and Islamic Art Museum (1984) was the first museum in Turkey to be awarded the "Council of Europe Jury Special Prize". This prize was later on followed by the Archeological Museum of Istanbul (1993), and Edirne Healthcare Museum (2004) each of which were given “Council of Europe Museum Prize” which is also bestowed under the body of the European Council.

EMYA Awards
The European Museum of the Year Award This is the main award, and goes to a museum which contributes most directly to attracting and satisfying its visitors with unique atmosphere, imaginative interpretation and presentation, creative approach to education and social responsibility.

The Kenneth Hudson Award
This is a new award in honour of the founder of EMYA. The award goes to a museum, person, project or a group of people who have demonstrated the most unusual, daring and, perhaps, controversial achievement that challenges common perception of the role of museum in the society and carries forward the spirit of Kenneth Hudson.

The Silletto Award
This award goes to a museum which has attracted the best support from volunteer effort, during the past two years, to enhance the public quality of the museum.

Special Awards A number of special awards will be given to museums which have developed a new and innovative aspect of their service, from which other European museums can learn.