Open Call for Nominations: CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award 2024

Copia de Copia de OMPA Program Web (1)

  • The CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award recognizes best practices in the modern and contemporary art museum sector and promotes knowledge sharing, excellence and relevance in the field.
  • The CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award is designed for modern and contemporary art museum professionals who want to nominate their own museum or a peer institution to showcase exemplary practices or programs that contribute significantly to future thinking about modern and contemporary art museums worldwide.
  • The nomination process will close on August 30, 2024.

Barcelona, April 3, 2024 - The International Committee of Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM) announces the opening of nominations for the CIMAM Award for Outstanding Museum Practice 2024. This recognition seeks to recognize exceptional museum practices that drive innovation, foster inclusivity, and inspire meaningful connections within the global museum community.

The CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award invites museum professionals and individuals in the modern and contemporary museum field to nominate exemplary practices or programs that contribute significantly to future thinking about modern and contemporary art museums worldwide. From transformative educational initiatives to sustainable community engagements, the initiative encourages nominations that exemplify excellence and inspire positive change.

Nomination Criteria

Nominees should demonstrate excellence and innovation in achieving the mission of the museum or collection, with a focus on:

  • Innovative approaches in core activities such as conservation, education, collection, exhibition programs, publications, research, public access, communication, governance, and sustainability.
  • Creation of relevant, sustainable, and collaborative content that fosters meaningful connections with people, communities, and their context, contributing to lasting structural change within museum operations.
  • Commitment to contributing to the arts and their communities with a medium and long-term vision.

Institutions eligible for nomination are dedicated to modern and contemporary art and adhere to the ICOM Definition of a Museum.

Examples of Good Practices

  • Governance practices that support the museum's mission, vision, and purpose.
  • Innovative acquisition policies and presentation of art collections and exhibitions.
  • Public, educational, communication, and accessibility programs catering to diverse audiences.
  • National and international partnership programs promoting sustainable museum practices.
  • Interpretation of current standards of museum practice with a vision of a sustainable future.

Excluded from Eligibility Criteria: One-off exhibitions, awards, and events.

Selection Process

Candidates undergo a rigorous selection process by the CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award steering committee comprised of contemporary art museum directors from around the world. Shortlisted practices are presented to the full CIMAM Board for final selection. Selected practices receive international recognition and are showcased at CIMAM's General Assembly and Annual Conference.

Recognition and Participation

Award-winning institutions receive public recognition from CIMAM and its members, with nominated practices widely disseminated through various channels. Awardees are offered participation in CIMAM programs throughout the year, contributing to the advancement of the museum sector, including a ticket entrance at the forthcoming CIMAM annual conference.

For more information and to apply

The 2023-25 CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award steering committee consists of CIMAM Board members: Suzanne Cotter (Chair), Suhanya Raffel, Joselina Cruz, Leevi Haapala, Chus Martinez, and Kamini Sawhney.

About CIMAM

CIMAM (International Committee of Museums and Collections of Modern Art) is the only global network of directors and curators of modern and contemporary art museums. Founded in The Hague in 1962, CIMAM is an Affiliated Organization of ICOM (International Council of Museums).

CIMAM's vision is for a world where the cultural, social, and economic impact of modern and contemporary art museums, collections, and archives in society is widely recognized. To fulfill this vision, CIMAM's mission is to bring together directors and curators of these institutions to debate and share knowledge on issues of concern through key initiatives such as the CIMAM Annual Conference and the Rapid Response Webinars. Provide support aligned with the ethical values of the ICOM and CIMAM Code of Ethics and establish guidelines, protocols, and references of best practices through the Museum Watch Program, the Sustainability and Ecology in Museum Practice, and the Outstanding Museum Practice Award. And contribute to the sector's growth by facilitating cooperation and development through the Travel Grant Program. Led by an international Board of Directors and Curators and operated by the Executive Office based in Barcelona (Spain), the organization relies on the collective expertise of its members to advance the sector and realize the shared vision.