Today, the Leading Culture Destinations Awards, dubbed “The Oscars for Museums," announce their shortlist celebrating the vibrancy and vitality of museums and cultural institutions around the world.

The Awards scheme, now in its fourth year, shines a light on the most exceptional contributions to cultural life that these institutions offer, while also showcasing some of the world's best emerging destinations.

This year, the 2017 Leading Culture Destinations Awards will have five sections and a new prize:

• The Leading Culture Destinations of the Year which has five categories: Exhibition of the Year, Museum Architecture of the Year, Museum Restaurant of the Year, Museum Shop of the Year and Digital Museum of the Year
• Best New Museum of the Year which is dedicated to young museums and institutions with five regional categories: Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, South & Central America
• The Valletta 2018 Soft Power Destinations of the Year, which recognise the cultural organisation, activation, and district that have powerful influence and impact based on their excellence, relevance, transparency, accountability and sustainability
• The Avis Travellers' Awards for Emerging Culture City Of The Year and Art Hotel Of The Year

 

New for this year is:

• The inaugural 'Climate Smart' Award* which will recognise an art institution or programming that has made a significant educational contribution to the fight against climate change.

 

• The Sipsmith 'Best Museum Late Night Experience' Prize, which will shine a light on the transformation of museums into late night social hubs. This unique prize is not just recognising an organisation, but also functions as a best practice case study for other cultural destinations to engage the next generation of cultural nomads with similar, innovative programming.

 

The Leading Culture Destinations Awards nominees have been chosen for their vital contribution to the international cultural panorama. A visionary approach and offer are key factors considered; from audacious programming and management structures, to cross-sector collaborations and Michelin-starred restaurants, late night openings and music performances, as well as contribution to change and educate the local and global communities.

The nominations for this year continue to reflect the growing global trend for cultural relevance as people look for experiences that will enrich them in some way. Cultural destinations today are not only for art    experiences and education; they have become social hubs for visitors to spend time, dine, shop, work and even sleep. Culture, now more than ever, is an integral part of our lifestyle.

An increasing number of cities in China and the Far East are providing serious competition against London, and New York, the historical world leaders in museums and cultural institutions, and the Leading Culture Destinations Awards shortlist reflects this. The shortlist has been has been carefully selected from a long list of nominations put together by our Ambassadors, 100 or more highly influential and travelled creative professionals.

A distinguished  jury panel (see footnotes for jury) will vote and agree the winners, who will be presented with a trophy designed by United Visual Artists at an award ceremony on Friday 29th September 2017 at the new Trafalgar St. James hotel.

Florian Wupperfeld, Co-founder of Leading Culture Destinations, commented: “We are delighted to announce the nominees for the fourth edition of the Leading Culture Destinations Awards, and are particularly excited to have brought the Climate Smart Award into the mix for the first time this year. Education on climate change is incredibly important for our sustainability, both environmentally and socially, so we felt it was right that we celebrate those who have made a significant impact in this area, offering a platform to discuss both the challenges and opportunities presented.”

 

Nominees Shortlist:

• Exhibition of the Year
  • Song Dong: I don't know the mandate of heaven at Rockbund Art Museum (Shanghai, China)
  • Martin Creed: Say Cheese! at Museum Voorlinden (Wassenaar, Netherlands)
  • Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors at Hirshhorn Museum (Washington DC, USA)

• Museum Architecture of the Year
  • Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (Lisbon, Portugal)
  • Etihad Museum (Dubai, UAE)

• Museum Restaurant of the Year
  • Fotografiska (Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Musee des Confluences (Lyon, France)
  • Nanjing Museum (Nanjing Bowuyuan, China)

• Museum Shop of the Year
  • Museum of Old and New Art (Hobart, Australia)
  • Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, USA)
  • Anchorage Museum (Anchorage, USA)

• Digital Museum of the Year
  • Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum (New York, USA)
  • American Museum of Natural History (New York, USA)
  • British Museum (London, UK)

• Best New Museum of the Year – Middle East/ UAE / Africa
  • National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (Cairo, Egypt)
  • Etihad Museum (Dubai, UAE)

• Best New Museum of the Year - Asia / Pacific
  • MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
  • Fosun Foundation (Beijing, China)
  • Jiangsu Art Museum (Nanjing, China)

• Best New Museum of the Year – Europe
  • Centro Botín (Santander, Spain)
  • Design Museum (London, UK)
  • Museum Barberini (Potsdam, Germany)

• Best New Museum of the Year - North America
  • Marciano Foundation (Los Angeles, USA)
  • Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia, USA)

• Best New Museum of the Year - South & Central America
  • Museo del Holocausto (Guatemala City, Guatemala)
  • Museo Internacional del Barroco (Puebla, Mexico)
  • Casa Wabi (Puerto Escondido, Mexico)

• Best Soft Power Cultural Organisation Award, presented by Valletta 2018
  • Toronto International Film Festival (Toronto, Canada)
  • Papalote Museo del Nino (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Museum of Tolerance (Los Angeles, USA)

• Best Soft Power Cultural Activation Award, presented by Valletta 2018
  • Queensland Museum, World Science Festival Brisbane (Brisbane, Australia)
  • Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Art Less: The Davis without Immigrants (Wellesley, USA)
  • Cultural Journalism Campus (Wai Chai, Hong Kong)

• Best Soft Power Cultural District Award, presented by Valletta 2018
  • Forest Park (St. Louis, USA)
  • Poblenou Urban District (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Watts Tower Arts Center (Los Angeles, USA)

• Best Art Hotel of the Year, presented by Avis
  • 21c Hotels (various, USA)
  • The Walled Off Hotel (Bethlehem)
  • Beaumont Hotel (London, UK)

• Best Emerging Culture City of the Year, presented by Avis
  • Athens, Greece
  • Montpellier, France
  • Tong Li, China

• 'Climate Smart Award', in partnership with SUNx
  • ART + CLIMATE = CHANGE 2017, Climarte (Melbourne, Australia)
  • Climate Control at Manchester Museum (Manchester, UK)
  • Changing Earth, The Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, USA)

Keep up to date with news on the Awards with #lcdawards #lcdtravel

Find out more at www.lcdawards.com

 

-Ends-

For further information:

Florian Wupperfeld, florian@leadingculturedestinations.com

 

*NOTES TO EDITORS:

Image Credits 

(L-R Row One) Fosun Foundation (China), Etihad Museum (Dubai), MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum (Thailand)

(L-R Row Two) Museo Internacional del Barroco (Mexico), Design Musuem (UK), Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (Portugal

THE JURY

Andrea Morgante, architect, designer & founder of Shiro Studio which includes projects such as Ferrari Museum.

Mon Muellerschoen, art advisor, and named Germany's No1 Art Consultant by Manager Magazin

Simon Rawlings, Creative Director at David Collins, designed Nobu, Connaught Bar or  Wolseley London

Claus Sendlinger, CEO and Founder of Design Hotels, recognized global travel aficionado

Jenny Mannerheim, CEO Each x Other, gallery & fashion brand, Paris

Petite Meller, musician & artist, people consider her to be the next Lady Gaga

Greta Bellamacina, Poet and BAFTA nominated filmmaker, loved by Stephen Fry

Jeremy Jauncey, founder of Beautiful Destinations, award-winning creative agency behind the largest travel community on social media

Feng Yuan, Renowned painter, art educator & Vice President of China Federation of Literary and Art Circle

Wu Huan, Artist & Cultural Influencer

Catherine Tabone, director of culture for Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU

 

The Climate Smart Award will be determined by its own distinct international jury led by long-time travel industry leader Dr. Tom Selanniemi, Director of the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia - Finland

Alongside :

Professor Geoffrey Lipman, former President of WTTC and Co-founder SUNx - Belgium

Felix Dodds,former Executive Director UN StakeholderForum and, author and  Co-founder SUNx - USA

Ignace Schops ,Goldman Award Winner, President of Europarc Federation and Author - Belgium

Maureen Lipman CBE, Award-winning Actress and Author - UK

Tom Goldberg MBE , Chairman AWI Group –UK

Richard Prosser, Chairman of Audley Travel - UK

Rose Mukogo, former Director of Research at Zimbabwe Tourism Authority - Zimbabwe

Paul Wilke, former Global PR Manager for Visa - USA

Jeanine Pires, former Minister of Brazilian Tourist Board - Brazil

Madan Bezbaruah, former Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Tourism - India

 

ABOUT LEADING CULTURE DESTINATIONS 

Leading Culture Destinations is a platform created to explore, recognise and promote the world's best destinations for cultural experiences.

Set up by Florian Wupperfeld and Bakul Patki, together with a team of art and travel enthusiasts, it aims at sharing knowledge and recommendations from a global network of leading professionals from the arts, fashion, music and film.

The company aims to support both emerging and existing arts institutions and travel destinations, highlighting the practices and solutions that raise the standards of the cultural sector worldwide.

 

FLORIAN WUPPERFELD - FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

Florian studied film production at UCLA in Los Angeles before starting his career as a trend scout in 1997, working with Mercedes Benz on the launch of the Smart car. He has acted as a consultant to numerous brands, developing extensive networks with creative communities across the world, including: BMW, Adidas, The Soho House Group, Hermes, LVMH, Colette and The New York Times. He is former Creative Director of the Soho House Group.

 

AIDAN WALKER - CONTENT DIRECTOR

Aidan completed an MA in History from Cambridge University. Over the past 20 years he was Editorial Director of UK design magazines including FX, Blueprint, Grand Designs, Icon and Onoffice. As director of Aidan Walker Associates, he now curates and chairs conferences and seminar programmes such as the International New York Times' Art for Tomorrow conference in Doha (Qatar), and the conference and seminar programme for Design Shanghai. His book 'The Ecology of the Soul' was published in February 2016.

 

ABOUT LCD AWARDS PARTNERS:

 

• VALLETTA 2018:

Malta's capital city, Valletta, is set to be the European Capital of Culture 2018. The accolade recognises  Valletta's role in driving cultural, social and economic regeneration across the Maltese archipelago through collaboration, exchange and innovative practice. The achievement will be celebrated with a series of events across the islands throughout 2018. #valletta2018

 

• AVIS:

Avis Car Rental operates one of the world's best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in approximately 170 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world's top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAR), which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world. For more information, visit www.avis.com or www.avis.co.uk

 

• SIPSMITH:

Pioneers of the gin revival, Sipsmith was London's first copper pot distillery for nearly two hundred years, opening its doors in 2009 on a mission to bring back London Dry Gin to the city where it made its name. All Sipsmith spirits are made by hand and in small batches, driven by the belief that this is the only way to craft spirits of such high quality. Sipsmith have been awarded one of the top 5 most trending gin brands for the last four years, by the 50 best bars in the world and a Cool Brand for 2016/17. https://sipsmith.com

 

• NEW META:

New Meta is a Chinese funded investment group committed to building bridges between China and Europe through Culture and the Arts.

Headquartered in London and Beijing, we invest in and partner with Europe's creative and cultural industries to bring them to the East.

 

• THE TRAFALGAR ST. JAMES:

The Trafalgar will launch as a brand new hotel, The Trafalgar St. James in early autumn 2017. Tucked away on the south side of the world-famous Trafalgar Square, the official centre of London, the hotel will bring a new level of excitement, vibrancy and sense of discovery to the capital, capturing the hearts of Londoners and visitors alike. The hotel will feature 131 rooms, with 14 suites (including 2 signature suites), an all-day dining grill restaurant, 1805; a year-round outdoor space, The Rooftop; and a downstairs private lounge, Biblio. The hotel will be part of the Curio Collection. Connect with the brand on Twitter and Instagram @TrafalgarSW1.

 

• INDIGITAL MEDIA:

InDigital Media Group provides comprehensive film and photography production services to the fashion and luxury brands industries. An established global leader in catwalk, beauty, backstage and editorial photography, the photographic team at InDigital has decades of experience in delivering high quality content to the world's major brands, publication houses and broadcast syndicators. With offices now in New York, London, Milan and Sydney, InDigital Media is one of the most extensive production resources in the industry. http://indigital.tv/

 

• SUNx:

SUNx stands for the Strong Universal Network – a legacy initiative of Maurice Strong, one of the fathers of Sustainable Development and Secretary General of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit the precursor of the UNSDG's (Sustainable Development Goals) and the Paris Climate Agreement.  It's eXchange solution will be delivered through a cloud connected network of community climate adaptation centres, which help deliver (low) “Impact Travel” transformation.

 

• THE NEW YORK TIMES:

The New York Times Company is a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information. The Company includes The New York Times, NYTimes.com and related properties. It is known globally for excellence in its journalism, and innovation in its print and digital storytelling and its business model. 

www.nytimes.com

 

• ART REVIEW:

Founded in 1949 and dedicated to expanding contemporary art's audience and reach ArtReview is one of the world's leading international contemporary art magazines. ArtReview speaks to a worldwide audience of collectors, artists, gallery owners and directors, curators, art educators and students, as well as an art-engaged public. www.artreview.com