Georgia: The Director of the National Museum of Georgia, David Lortkipanidze presented an award to the Van Archaeological Museum on the International Day of Museums. “The Best in Heritage – Project of Influence” award was given during a ceremony which took place on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
The Ministry of Culture of Georgia also shared additional details and several snippets from the award ceremony on its official Facebook account. This indicates how important this event is in representing the museum’s and Georgia’s culture.
Significantly, Vani Archaeological Museum has been named after Otar Lortkipanidze, a renowned Georgian scholar and archaeologist. He discovered a number of temples, fortresses, and several artifacts at the Vani location. Some of these artifacts encompassed gold ornaments and ceramics that helped in the comprehension of the Colchian civilization.
In addition, Vani Archaeological Museum was awarded the World Award in 2024 for its significant contribution to preservation and promotion of Georgia’s cultural heritage. Further, Van Archaeological Museum is already a holder of the European Museums Award 2023 and the Sylhetto Prize.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Vani Municipality Alexander Gogorishvili. Manager of the Vani Archaeological Museum Omar Gabunia and its staff were also present during the ceremony.
The Best in Heritage – Project of Influence
The Best in Heritage – Project of Influence award was presented in the memory of Kenneth Hudson and Georges-Henri Riviere. As the Ministry of Culture of Georgia reports, this award will be presented every year to a successful, award-winning museum.
Kenneth Hudson was a British museologist, journalist, and broadcaster best known as a trail-blazer in the field of industrial archaeology. Meanwhile, Georges Henri Rivière was a French museologist who’s contributions played a significant role in shaping museums today. His contributions were made especially in community relations and ethnographic display.Â
