The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) is a prestigious accolade for European museums, presented by the European Museum Forum (EMF) since 1977. Its purpose is to acknowledge significant events in the European museum sector and encourage the implementation of innovations in museums.

The Sybir Memorial Museum was nominated for the 2024 award, with its main mission being to commemorate, research, document, and disseminate knowledge about the fate of individuals deported to Siberia.

“With great joy, the European Museum Forum shares the decision of the Council of Europe regarding the laureate of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2024. Chosen by the Committee on Culture at today’s meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on December 5, 2023, the Sybir Memorial Museum (Białystok, Poland) is awarded the prize,” the European Museum Forum announced on Tuesday afternoon on its profile.

The award ceremony, as previously stated, will take place on May 1–4, 2024, in Portimao, Portugal.

The Sybir Memorial Museum’s application for this award was announced in May. Prof. Wojciech Leszyski, the museum’s director at the time, stated that the institution was a historical museum when it first opened.

He recalled that transports to Siberia left from the institution’s location in 1940–41.

“Without a doubt, this is the most significant location within the current borders of the Polish state, telling the story of Soviet crimes in the 1940s. But today, the exhibition in the museum has gained exceptional significance. Events we talk about that happened 80 years ago unfortunately repeat themselves today in Ukraine,” said Śleszyński. He also emphasized that submitting the application serves as a reminder in Europe that this history should not be forgotten.

The Sybir Memorial Museum in Białystok was officially opened on September 17, 2021. Its permanent exhibition, covering an area of ​​approximately 2,000 square meters, presents the history of Polish presence in Siberia, from Tsarist deportations into Russia to Soviet repression and crimes, including deportations to the East. The museum features around 5,000 exhibits and is engaged in scientific activities.