This prize is awarded for the most unusual, daring, and, perhaps, controversial museum achievement. It is named after Kenneth Hudson, the founder of the European Museum Forum (EMF). “The museum offers a very diverse range of voices and stories, as well as a fascinating array of objects. Together these provide a great resource to reflect on the past. The EMF Trustees were impressed by the honesty and intellectual clarity of this museum. The House of Austrian History demonstrates the potential of museums in the 21st century to promote a confident, reflective citizenship. The museum does not adopt a moralising, preaching, or apologetic tone, but focuses on honesty, with a clear ethical position. The House of Austrian History can serve as a model for any national or regional museum that is committed to addressing complex or painful legacies of the past and to inspiring hope and courage for the future,” according to the European Museum Forum in its explanatory statement. The years of discussions surrounding the foundation are also addressed: “The struggles of this museum have included the reduction of the space originally allocated to it and dealing with proposals to transfer it to a less highly charged location. This museum merits the Kenneth Hudson Award however, not because of the battles and controversies it has survived, but because it has dared to take an exceptionally honest look at recent history. It questions the image of Austria as an old, imperial, but neutral ‘nice’ country, and offers visitors tools to explore their citizenship and engage in debate.”

All award winners and the complete jury statement

This video is an extract from the European Museum of the Year Awards 2020 and 2021 Online Ceremony, organised by the European Museum Forum and hosted by the Yeltsin Center on 6 May 2021. To see the full version please visit European Museum Forum’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ASMlQpUFLBY