Museum Ovartaci is among the museums nominated for the EMYA-2025 – European Museum of the Year Award 2025. The EMYA award is awarded to a museum that contributes to our understanding of the world and to the development of new paradigms and professional standards in museums.

'It is one of the biggest pats on the back', says museum director Mia Lejsted and continues: 'We are a museum that every day makes a virtue of being much more than a museum, and contributes positively to the development of new paradigms by creating new insights in areas that can be difficult to access.'

Saturday 24 May the EMYA2025 winners will be announced at the annual EMYA2025 conference and awards ceremony in Białystok, Poland.

‘No matter the outcome, we are incredibly proud to be nominated among other well-known European museums’, says museum director Mia Lejsted.

A short presentation video has been made for the occasion – watch it here.

Do you want to learn how crafts can boost your mental health?

Stop by at Museum Ovartaci 15 May fra 17:00-18:30, where Maria from the Instagram Profile Skaberglæde shares her experience and introduce us to Craft Psychology – a method for using creativity as self-care.  

You will learn more about:

• How crafting can create peace and counteract stress
• Why passion is not always necessary to improve your well being
• How to obtain flow and meaningful ‘self-forgetfulness’                                       
• How to adapt creative activities to your energy and your skills
• There is no need to be an expert for you to bring something back home as everything will be explained from scratch.

Bring a friend and find your creative superpower.

Wednesday 9 April museum professionals from Central Denmark met at Museum Ovartaci, which provided premises for the annual meeting of MMU (Collaboration of museums in Central Denmark). After the annual meeting, a theme meeting about culture and health took place to which the museum also contributed.

Museum director Mia Lejsted gave the first presentation of the theme meeting on how Museum Ovartaci daily works with health based on art. Afterwards singer, musician and visual artist Lars H.U.G. contributed with his perspective on how uncertainty can be used as a driving force in the creative process. Finally, Pia Astrup, Head of Office for Sustainability and Health Innovation in the Central Denmark Region, shared her knowledge of the value of culture in ​​health.

The day ended with a final debate on the future justification of the cooperation and how a forward-looking strategy can be formed.

At Museum Ovartaci we are convinced that we are strongest when we work together and share our knowledge with each other. This is how we develop and become an even better offer for all citizens.
 

On 13 June Museum Ovartaci will open a new special exhibition: '365 DAYS IN A BAG – Uncertainty as a driving force – Let go of the line'.

In close collaboration with singer, musician and visual artist Lars H.U.G., we invite you into the artist's space, where uncertainty is the driving force. Here, together, we explore what happens when we let go, forget ourselves and surrender ourselves fully to the creative process.

The exhibition opens on 13 June 15:00.

We are looking for hosts to our museum shop to welcome our guests. If you are service minded and interested in art – and an early pensioner (førtidspensionist) – a part-time job at Museum Ovartaci might be just something for you.

You are the first person our guests meet so you welcome them with a smile and introduce the museum and our exhibitions to them, giving them a good start to their visit.

Your tasks:

• Welcoming our guests
• Selling tickets, books, posters etc
• Introducing the museum and exhibitions
• Keeping the shop tidy
• Answering questions from the guests

Working hours will typically be two shifts during the week and one shift during the weekend per month. The shifts will be from either 9.30-13.30 or 13.30-17.15 and 11.45-17.15 on a Saturday or a Sunday.

About you: You are welcoming, smiling and responsible, and you like talking to different people and giving them a good experience. Experience is not necessary, but we hope that you are interested and curious about the museum's art and psychiatric history.
Do you or someone you know want to become part of Museum Ovartaci? Write or call HR manager Marianne Nygaard Bruun at e-mail: manyg@aarhus.dk or tel. 4185 6177.

On 22 April a wonderful exhibition with magnificent works opened at Vejlby Folkehus.

The works are full of fantastic quirks, innovative use of recycled materials and graphic elements all created by the users of Frirummet– The museum’s creative workshops. The works are different and imaginative and quite unique – just like the users of Frirummet.

The opening was well attended, and several of the works were sold on the opening day. It was with great pride and joy the users opened the doors to a look into the world of the workshops.

Admission is free and the exhibition can be seen in Vejlby Folkehus until the end of June.

On 29 April Friends of Ovartaci held its annual general meeting. In addition to the traditional items on the agenda, Hanne Teglhus formally said goodbye to her position as chairperson for more than 10 years.

Hanne Teglhus was one of the enthusiasts who stood up for the museum in 2014 when it looked like the museum would be closed. Out of a group of strong supporters, Friends of Ovartaci was formed. Fortunately, the museum survived and is thriving today, but there is still a great need for support for many more projects. (Read more about Friends of Ovartaci …)

Hanne has served as the chairperson until the fall of 2024. She has a background as a museum curator at Steno Museum and as an external lecturer in Communication and Culture at Aarhus University.

We owe Hanne a big thank you for her great efforts as chairperson – thank you for always showing up, knocking on doors, writing and being an advocate.

Thank you, Hanne, – and we look foreward to seeing you again at the museum

Members of Friends of Museum Ovartaci help ensure the continued existence of the museum and help make a difference by eliminating prejudices and create an understanding of mental illness through art and history of art.

In other words: Museum Ovartaci needs you!

As a member of Friends of Museum Ovartaci you get special benefits. You will be invited to events, openings, pre-views, special friend-events and a discount to selected events. Furthermore, a membership in Museum Ovartaci’s Friends grants free admission to the museum. Membership price 225 DKK per year.
Sign up and become a part of Museum Ovartaci’s Friends by following the link below.

To join Friends of Ovartaci