6 Oct 2024
Carl Nielsen Museum wins international museum award
On Saturday, the Carl Nielsen Museum won the coveted Micheletti Award at the European Museum Academy’s award ceremony in Cyprus – the museum world’s equivalent of the Oscars in Hollywood.
Opened in June 2023 and located together with Odense Concert Hall, the Carl Nielsen Museum is a museum of international calibre. This was confirmed on Saturday evening when the museum won the international Micheletti Award, presented to the museum that most convincingly uses storytelling and innovation to share knowledge and engage its visitors.
Mads Thagård Runge, Museum Odense’s Head of Development for Hans Christian Andersen House and the Carl Nielsen Museum, was in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, together with four colleagues to receive the award.
It is a fantastic recognition of the very special form of interpretation that we have succeeded so well in creating at the Carl Nielsen Museum, and of which we are naturally proud. Making music the museum’s most important object is something that has not been seen before and is, at first glance, a difficult task – one that we have developed and refined together with the English agency Event. Visitors to the museum are captivated by experiencing Carl Nielsen’s life and music presented in a sensory and moving way. But of course, it is especially important to us to receive the award as the best European museum of the year and, with it, the recognition of our museum colleagues.Mads Thagård RungeHead of Development, Museum Odense
The award ceremony took place at A.G. Leventis Gallery in Nicosia late on Saturday evening.
This is not only a major recognition of the Carl Nielsen Museum, but also a fantastic milestone for Odense. The Micheletti Award is yet another addition to the city of Odense’s collection of international accolades, which already includes glowing recommendations from Forbes, Vogue and The New York Times. Most recently, Odense’s Viking fortress Nonnebakken was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. Mayor of Odense Municipality Peter Rahbæk Juel is incredibly proud of the museum’s and the city’s new international recognition:
I am proud that Museum Odense and the Carl Nielsen Museum have won the Micheletti Award. It is a major international recognition of the museum’s significant work in presenting Carl Nielsen’s life and work, but also a tribute to Odense as a city of culture. With the opening of Carl Nielsen’s Camino on 1 September, the Carl Nielsen Museum is taking the next step as an inspiring and innovative part of our cultural life. I look forward to following Museum Odense’s continued journey in enriching both local visitors and the many guests from near and far. Congratulations on the award!Peter Rahbæk JuelMayor of Odense Municipality
Because the Carl Nielsen Museum has received this prestigious award, admission to the museum will be free for everyone on Sunday 6 October. The Carl Nielsen Museum is open from 10:00 to 16:00.
Facts about the Carl Nielsen Museum’s journey to the Micheletti Award
- The Micheletti Award is presented by EMA – the European Museum Academy.
- The award is named after the Italian Luigi Micheletti, who founded it in 1981.
- The Carl Nielsen Museum was shortlisted in June from among around 40 different museums. Last night, it was selected from the six remaining finalists.
- The museum reopened in June 2023 after undergoing extensive restoration, made possible by a major donation of DKK 16 million from the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Foundation.
- The exhibition was developed by Museum Odense with significant contributions from researchers at the University of Copenhagen and with support from the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.
- The exhibition design was created by Event Communications, while Stouenborg/Kurtzweil/System Standex built the exhibition.