The Khanenko Museum has won The Best in Heritage award and received the title of Project of Influence 2025, becoming a symbol of resilience and innovation in the cultural sphere.
The award was presented to the museum’s director, Yuliya Vaganova, during the 24th The Best in Heritage conference in Barcelona. The event brought together over 150 professionals and 40 laureates of international awards in the field of cultural heritage.
The jury noted:
“This project, born out of the sheer resilience of those facing the realities of war, reminds us of what is essential in humanity — care and solidarity. By transforming the emptiness of museum halls and the absence of collections into a space for community and creativity, the museum has become a beacon of resilience, transformation, and inspiration for future generations and for peace”.
Each year, The Best in Heritage recognizes only two projects worldwide — Project of Influence and IMAGINES. The initiative brings together winners of the most prestigious international awards, including Europa Nostra, EMYA (European Museum of the Year Award), and CIMAM (Award for Outstanding Museum Practices), creating a platform for dialogue on how cultural institutions respond to the challenges of our time.
The Khanenko Museum was nominated for The Best in Heritage as the winner of the CIMAM Outstanding Museum Practice Award 2024.
“For the Khanenko Museum, this award is a recognition of the power of culture and a testament to the trust placed in Ukrainian institutions worldwide. Even in times of war, museums remain centers of life, meaning, and hope. We are deeply grateful to the organizers of The Best in Heritage, to our colleagues, and to all partners — for this honor and for our shared belief in the power of culture, community, and partnership,” said representatives of the museum.
The Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts is Ukraine’s leading museum of world art. It presents the country’s most significant collections of European, Asian, and ancient art. At the heart of the museum lies the art collection of Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko — prominent Ukrainian collectors and philanthropists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
