The partnership agreement between the Algarve municipality, in the Faro district, and the European Museum Forum, the body responsible for awarding the prizes, was signed this afternoon at Portimão Municipal Museum.

"Following the cancellation of the event in 2021 in Portimão due to the pandemic, there was a need to reformulate the entire application process, whose conclusion is made official with the signing of all the documentation," Portimão Museum director José Gameiro told Lusa News Agency.

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) is the main and oldest of the awards given by the European Museum Forum and also the most prestigious in Europe.

Created to recognise excellence in the European museum sector and to promote innovative processes and excellence, the award has been given since 1977, the date of the foundation of the European Museum Forum, created by the Council of Europe.

In the opinion of the director of the Portimão Museum, the award ceremony in 2024, "is an important moment to strengthen the European relationship that exists between the Algarve and the EMYA".