The Museum of Madness receives a European Award

The Museum of Madness has received a European award, marking a significant recognition for its innovative approach to addressing the history of stigma surrounding mental illness. The museum, located on the island of Trsat, was awarded the Kenneth Hudson Award for institutional courage and professional integrity by the European Museum Forum during the European Museum Awards (EMYA) ceremony held last week in Bilbao, Spain. This prestigious accolade highlights the museum's efforts to transform a former institution of isolation into a space of remembrance and dialogue, using personal testimonies, archives, and art to explore the history of mental health care and institutional life.

The museum’s permanent exhibition was established as a civic initiative in 2022, aiming to convert the historic Grad Cmurek—a site once used for isolating individuals deemed mentally ill—into a place of memory and conversation. According to the award citation, the museum exemplifies exceptional institutional courage in confronting a difficult and often marginalized part of history while challenging the persistent stigma associated with mental illness. The museum works alongside former staff, residents, and local organizations to repurpose the former isolation facility into a living heritage space. It is described as a model of responsible stewardship of heritage, giving voice and opportunities to those who were silenced in the past and connecting local memory with broader European discussions on human rights, inclusion, and social responsibility.

Sonja Bezjak, director of the Museum of Madness, dedicated the award to those suffering from mental health issues who have endured discrimination due to society's attitudes toward madness, as well as those still struggling today under poor conditions. She expressed hope that this recognition would contribute to greater awareness of the social issue and promote increased social inclusion. The museum was founded in 2013 by residents and staff connected to the area of Trsat to preserve Grad Cmurek and address the phenomenon of madness and the legacy of the former institution that operated there after World War II. After the closure of the psychiatric institution in 2004, the building fell into disrepair.

The Kenneth Hudson Award, named after the renowned museologist Kenneth Hudson, founder of EMYA, recognizes courageous and sometimes controversial museum practices that challenge and expand traditional understandings of museums' roles and responsibilities in society. The European Museum Forum, established by the Council of Europe, also awards the European Museum of the Year and the Council of Europe Museum Prize annually since 1977. This year's recipients included Den Gamle By, a museum in the botanical garden of Aarhus, Denmark, and the Young V&A, a children's museum that became a branch of the British Museum Victoria and Albert.

The Museum of Madness has been featured extensively in the recent special edition of *Mladina* titled "Madness." The publication explores the history of societal attitudes towards individuals with mental health challenges, which is largely a history of violence, fear, and horror. Methods used by doctors and policymakers over centuries have often resembled a dark fairy tale. The question arises: what has been labeled as madness throughout history? What horrors have people inflicted upon one another, and how much suffering has resulted from these actions? Women, in particular, have had a special place in this house of horror. Why have decades of female distress or rejection been labeled as madness? Why have women had to endure so much pain?

The special edition of *Mladina*, titled "Madness," provides an in-depth look into the historical relationship between society and individuals with mental health challenges. The magazine can be ordered online through their e-commerce platform. The Museum of Madness, despite operating in limited conditions, has gained international recognition for its unique approach to preserving and interpreting the complex history of mental health institutions. Director Sonja Bezjak emphasized the significance of the award, noting that most nominated museums come from Western Europe and operate in renovated or entirely new spaces with substantial public support. For the Museum of Madness, this recognition serves as further validation of their work, developed with modest resources, following principles of organic growth, reuse, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The European Museum Forum jury, led by Amina Krvavac, director of the Museum of War Childhood in Sarajevo, praised the museum for its transformative role in addressing a historically neglected aspect of heritage. The museum's work not only gives voice to those previously silenced but also connects local memory with broader European conversations about human rights, inclusion, and social responsibility. As the museum continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to fostering understanding and empathy around mental health issues, ensuring that the voices of the past continue to resonate in the present and future.