Khanenko Museum Named 2025 “Project of Influence” at The Best in Heritage
Barcelona, 24 October 2025 - CIMAM is delighted to share that the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Art (Kyiv, Ukraine), recipient of the CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award 2024, has been selected as one of the two “Projects of Influence” at The Best in Heritage 2025, held in Barcelona from 22-24 October.
Presented by Yuliya Vaganova, Director General, the museum’s work was recognized for its extraordinary resilience and commitment to its community since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. By transforming empty museum spaces into a platform for care, creativity, and public gathering, the Khanenko Museum demonstrates how institutions can uphold their mission under the most difficult circumstances - embodying what museums can mean to society in times of crisis.
“Born out of the essential need for solidarity, this project elevates the museum as a beacon of resilience, transformation, and hope for future generations,” stated the jury, composed by Stephanie de Roemer, Vice Chair, Directory Board, ICOM-CC, UNITED KINGDOM; Trevor White, Founder, Little Museum of Dublin, IRELAND; Xavier Ulled, Researcher, Catalan Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (ICRPC-CERCA), CATALONIA; Russell Briggs, Museum Consultant, AUSTRALIA; Nayat Karaköse, Coordinator, 23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory.
More than 150 participants joined the 24th edition of The Best in Heritage, which showcased innovative and award-winning initiatives from around the world. Through a participatory voting process involving moderators, former laureates, and the audience, two Projects of Influence are selected each year to highlight practices with substantial impact beyond their immediate context.
Alongside the Khanenko Museum, the IMAGINES Project of Influence 2025 was awarded to “In Our Care: The Keepers’ Choice” by Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lisbon, Portugal), celebrated for bringing museum staff and their expertise visibly to the forefront of interpretation.
This recognition underscores CIMAM’s advocacy for museums working courageously and ethically in service to their communities. We extend our warmest congratulations to Yuliya Vaganova and the entire Khanenko Museum team on this well-deserved honor.
Also featured in the TBIH 2025 ceremony was Shion L., Educational Coordinator at MAM Rio, representing the museum’s Inclusion initiative, one of the three winners of the CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award 2024.
“The Barcelona gathering reminded us that the most influential heritage work blends innovation with integrity, and that professional dialogue remains our best tool for shaping the future of a more informed and connected world. The spirit of the conference endures — reflective, generous, and steadfastly committed to showcasing the power of best practice.” Professor Tomislav S. Šola, Director & Chairman of The Best in Heritage Board of Advisors.
About The Best in Heritage
The Best in Heritage is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting every aspect of professional excellence in heritage occupations and doing it "by the power of example” through an annual, global conference. TBIH is the world's unique event showcasing the best, award-winning achievements in the heritage sector.
https://www.thebestinheritage.com/
About CIMAM’s Outstanding Museum Practice Award
The Outstanding Museum Practice Award is an initiative led by a dedicated working group of the CIMAM Board that annually identifies and recognizes exemplary museum practices worldwide. Through an open call for nominations across the modern and contemporary art museum sector, the Award highlights initiatives that demonstrate structural transformation, contextual relevance, and meaningful engagement with communities and audiences.
Launched in 2021, the Award celebrates projects that - regardless of scale or resources - embody innovation, ethical practice, and a deep commitment to the social role of museums today. By showcasing these achievements, OMPA aims to strengthen shared learning across the sector and inspire institutions to lead with responsibility, creativity, and care.
The Award welcomes nominations from museum professionals and individuals working in the field, who submit a nomination of an institution’s practice or propose the work of another museum that deserves recognition for its positive impact, context-sensitive approach, and forward-looking vision for what museums can be.
The 2023-25 CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award steering committee consists of CIMAM Board members:
- Suzanne Cotter (Chair), Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, Australia.
- Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- Joselina Cruz, Director/Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila, Philippines.
- Leevi Haapala, Dean, Academy of Fine Arts, University of Arts, Helsinki, Finland.
- Chus Martinez, Director, Institute Art Gender Nature, Basel, Switzerland.
- Kamini Sawhney, Artistic Director, Public Arts Project, BlrHubba; Museum Management Expert; Independent Curator, Bangalore, India.