Grand Prix of the Europa Nostra Awards 2025 for the exhibition “Ježeva kućica – Imagining a Better World”

The exhibition “Ježeva kućica – Imagining a Better World” by the Museum of Yugoslavia has won the Grand Prix of the Europa Nostra Awards 2025, the highest European recognition in the field of cultural heritage, in the category Citizens’ Engagement and Awareness-Raising.

The European Commission and Europa Nostra jointly present these awards to outstanding initiatives that contribute to the preservation, research, and promotion of Europe’s cultural heritage. This year, among 30 laureates from 24 European countries, the Museum of Yugoslavia’s project was recognized as an exceptional example of a contemporary approach to heritage – through collaboration with children and students, fostering intergenerational dialogue, and reflecting on home, community, and collective memory.

The award ceremony took place on 13 October 2025 at the Flagey Cultural Centre in Brussels, as part of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025, in the presence of over 700 participants – experts, representatives of institutions, and cultural initiatives from across Europe.

The exhibition “Ježeva kućica – Imagining a Better World” was created through the collaboration of artists, educators, curators, psychologists, and children, inspired by Branko Ćopić’s beloved children’s poem. Through an interactive and co-creative process, the project opened important topics – from home and belonging to memory, nostalgia, and inclusivity – becoming a space for dialogue between generations and communities.

This award represents a major achievement not only for the Museum of Yugoslavia but also for contemporary museological practice in Serbia and the wider region, confirming that cultural heritage can be a driver of empathy, togetherness, and new forms of learning.