Museum Of The Year 2009: The Museum of Military History

In the garden of the National Museum this weekend there were more than 100 museums, 70 craftsmen, concerts, pastries, tin soldiers and film screenings awaiting visitors. At the stand of the Institute and Museum of Military History guests could learn how to beat the drums and control toy tanks, assemble a ’6-pound’ cannon used in the 1848–49 freedom fight, see the weapons of 1848–49 soldiers and buy books on military history for a special price at the book fair.

The name of the winner of the Museum of the Year Award was announced at 10 am on Saturday. At the awards ceremony, László Csorba, the Director General of the National Museum greeted the visitors. Like he said the National Museum is the permanent venue of celebrating spring revival. “This event is also the expression of spring and renewal, and proves that history is not a bunch of books in a glass cabinet but the integral part of our lives."

Following the opening of the may day festivities by Dr. Gábor Gotthard, the mayor of Józsefváros (District 8), Dr. Annamária Vígh, Head of Department, Public Collections, Ministry of Education and Culture, the patron of the may day event said the program, held every year since 1996, has gone through many changes in the past years, similarly to Hungarian museum life. Speaking about the Museum of the Year Award she emphasised the importance of this professional recognition which also has an effect on museum visitors. "If we examine our professional work we can see that award winning museums have a systematic strategy and implemented important developments," said Dr. Vígh, who quoted the example of the Institute and Museum of Military History, among others. She also mentioned the creative and innovative solutions in the spectacular exhibit in the attic.

The award was established by the Pulszky Society/Hungarian Museum Association, the evaluation committee includes representatives of the Pulszky Society, the Hungarian National Committee of ICOM, the Department for Public Collections, Ministry of Education and Culture, the National Cultural Fund and the Hungarian National Museum. This year the committee has awarded the Museum of the Year title to two museums, Mátra Museum in Gyöngyös and the Institute and Museum of Military History in Budapest.

The medal was presented to Lt.Gen. József Holló, the director general of the Institute and Museum of Military History, and deputy director Lt.Col. Gyula Kedves for their achievements in preserving and maintaining Hungarian military heritage and traditions.

The Nógrád Historical Museum and the Völgység Museum of Bonyhád received certificates and special awards were presented to the Museum of Trade and Tourism, the Sticker Museum of Százhalombatta, and the Tiszazug Geographic Museum.