Programme of Budapest Museum of Ethnography wins prestigious international award

The educational programme of the Museum of Ethnography, "Let's spend the Night at the Museum!" received a Special Commendation from the international board of judges of the prestigious 2025 Children in Museums Award, according to the institution's website. The recognition is awarded by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International to institutions that provide an outstanding museum experience for children. According to the judging panel, the programme "provides a strong collection focus and an active learning environment, introducing children to the world of museums and the discipline of ethnography in a uniquely engaging way.”

Finishing the exhibition together

"Let's spend the Night at the Museum!" is the first, already up and running phase of the institution's planned children's museum. It is intended for 8- to 11-year-olds, families with younger children, and classes from schools, and is available in two formats: as a short evening program or as an overnight sleepover experience. Participants enter the museum after it has closed, so the first moment of the program immediately raises the question: What happens in the museum after hours?

The central space used for the programme is a section of the museum designed specifically for this educational purpose and is used only for these activities: it includes a half-finished exhibition and its storage area. The children have to complete the exhibition. The theme of the exhibition is sleep, which is presented as both a personal and a cultural subject. Children can choose from hundreds of items and work on magnetic and writable surfaces, while the curators' plans, notes, and object descriptions are also at their disposal. Throughout the process, they act as real curators and museologists: they research, select, arrange, and create their own mini-exhibition.