Two Greek museums received dual honors at the European Museum Academy Awards ceremony in Alicante, Spain. In addition to the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), which won the 2026 European Art Museum Award, the European Academy of Museums honored Angeliki Giannakidou, a Greek researcher, founder, and president of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Ethnological Museum of Thrace had also been honored in 2025 with a Special Distinction at the European Academy of Museums’ DASA Awards for its innovative approach to museum education.
Similarly, EMTH President Angeliki Giannakidou stated:
“The entire EMTH team and I personally are deeply moved by this award. This second European recognition reaffirms the philosophy that guides our work: that museums belong to society. Our “Antidoro” is to make collective memory a space for empathy, solidarity, community bonds, and creative power. On the occasion of this distinction, we would like to express our gratitude to the Minister of Culture, Dr. Lina Mendoni, who has been a companion and supporter on this journey.”
Ethnological Museum of Thrace
The Ethnological Museum of Thrace has been operating since 2002 in a historic stone neoclassical building dating from 1899 in Alexandroupoli, as a self-funded nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historical memory and promoting the culture of Thrace from the 17th to the 20th century. Through a wealth of ethnographic material, personal testimonies, and multicultural initiatives, the Museum serves as a vibrant pillar of development and social cohesion, having received significant accolades, such as an honorable mention from the Pan-European Museum Award (2005), an award from the Benaki Museum (2015), and recognition from UNESCO Greece (2021). The museum’s founder is Angeliki Giannakidou, who has been conducting research in the region of Thrace for 40 years. She has authored books, edited publications, and given numerous lectures throughout Greece. In addition, she has produced 25 documentaries, curated exhibitions as an artist, and designs the museum’s exhibits with the aim of presenting traditional techniques through a contemporary aesthetic. She actively supports more than 25 women in matters of the cultural economy, is a member of the National Council of Museums, was honored in 2021 by the Greek National Commission for UNESCO, and her most recent initiative is the founding of “Riza,” a network of artisans in Thrace.
Leave A Comment