Valvasor Award
Named after Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1641–1693), the Slovene polymath of the 17th century, who dedicated his life to science and collecting, the Valvasor Award is given for lifetime achievement in the museum field and for outstanding contributions to the conservation, presentation, and popularisation of movable natural and cultural heritage in Slovenia and abroad.
In addition, the society also recognises important achievements in the field of museology in the previous year, the Valvasor Honorary Recognition is also awarded to special merit in popularising museology and movable cultural heritage and for significant grants of sponsors to museums and galleries.
Following a call for the Valvasor Award and Recognition nominees, the commission makes the selection of winners based on activities of the preceding calendar year. The awards are by rule given on the eve of International Museum Day (18 May). The ceremony is occasionally accompanied by a cultural programme in one of the museums in Ljubljana.
Previous winners
In the last decade the majority of the awards was bestowed for the lifetime achievements (Breda Ilich Klančnik in 2009, Meta Gabršek Prosenc in 2008, Irena Šavel in 2007, Jasna Horvat 2006, Lidija Tavčar in 2005, Maja Žvanut in 2004, Kemal Selmanović in 2002, and Tone Kregar in 2000), although in 2001 the Živeti v Celju [To live in Celje] permanent exhibition of Celje Museum of Recent History has received the Valvasor Award as well.