Inaugural ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums Announced

The Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS) has been announced as the winner of the inaugural ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums for its project "Shared Island Stories Between Scotland and the Caribbean: Transnational Youth Exchange."

Presented at the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai, the award recognises museums that are leading change by addressing the world's most pressing challenges through the framework of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Shared Island Stories initiative tackles interconnected issues such as climate emergency, coastal erosion, at-risk youth, heritage decline, and economic instability in island communities.

Selected from 130 projects across 60 countries, the winning initiative stood out for its creative and community-driven approach. Entries were evaluated by an international jury of seven experts in museums and sustainable development, based on the five dimensions of the 2030 Agenda: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

"As we face global challenges, from climate crisis to social inequality, museums must be part of the solution. The ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums celebrates institutions that have answered this call with creativity, courage, and concrete action. The winner, selected from an extraordinary field of 130 projects spanning 60 countries, proves that cultural institutions can drive meaningful change while fulfilling their core mission of preservation and education. It is through initiatives such as the ICOM Award that we incite museums to think differently about their role and their impact within society. It is just the beginning of a transformation that will reshape museums for generations to come."

- Emma Nardi, ICOM President (2022 - 2025 mandate)

Alongside BMHS, four finalists were recognised for their outstanding contributions: the Ghent City Museum (STAM) in Belgium, the Museums Association of Namibia, the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia, and the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art in Sarajevo.

"The inaugural ICOM Award received a large number of submissions from all corners of the globe, showcasing a diverse range of approaches to the 5 Ps (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership) and 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This overwhelming response is a testament to the unwavering commitment of ICOM's global membership to the UN Agenda 2030's mission of 'leave no-one behind'.

These submissions are a reminder too, of the significant impact individual museums can have, far beyond their own communities, as integral parts of ICOM's global knowledge network. The diversity of approach can inspire fellow museum practitioners and institutions to make major contributions to addressing the most pressing issue of our time: the transition to a just, sustainable future for all.

Moreover, the submissions also demonstrate the many pathways in which museums can become agents of change. Rather than solely raising awareness of sustainability, they can develop and test sustainable practices, transforming themselves into workshops for a fairer and more democratic future. This is a powerful argument for integrating culture into sustainable development plans everywhere."

- Morien Rees, Chair of the ICOM Award for Sustainable Practises in Museums Jury

Through this new award, ICOM aims to build a global repository of best practices to inspire museums worldwide into adopting sustainable development practices and demonstrate that museums are essential partners in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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