The world’s northernmost museum was awarded the prize for highlighting the factors that help support life and activities in the Arctic, and examining the close connections between the land and the sea and between nature and culture.
A polar bear on display at the museum. Photo: Halvor Rønning/ Svalbard museum.
Preserving nature
“After all, the idea behind the exhibition is that people who go walking in the outdoors must do so with great caution,” said the director of the museum, Tora Hultgreen to the Norwegian daily newspaper Aftenposten.
Snow-clad mountains in Svalbard. Photo: Mari Tefre.
Educating young people
Since 1991, the Svalbard Museum has been part of the Norwegian after-school day-care scheme. Under the scheme, the museum opens its doors to schoolchildren for one day a week, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the nature and cultural history of Svalbard.
The interior of a reconstructed Norwegian hunting station. Photo. Halvor Rønning/ Svalbard museum.
High North research
The Svalbard Museum opened in 1979, and is today part of Svalbard Research Park, which opened in 2006. The research park has links with the University Centre in Svalbard, the Norwegian Polar Institute and Governor of Svalbard. The purpose of the research park is to coordinate national and international academic activities on Svalbard, and to build closer ties between research and education.
An annual award
Candidates for the Museum Prize are shortlisted by the European Museum Forum. The prize constitutes a bronze statuette, La femme aux beaux seins by the Spanish artist Joan Miró, a diploma and a cheque for EUR 5 000. These will be presented to the Svalbard Museum at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 15 April. The museum will be allowed to keep the statuette for one year.
The Research Park in Longyearbyen. Photo: Halvor Rønning/ Svalbard museum.