The 18 winners, hailing from 13 different countries, ranging from local grass-roots organizations to renowned national institutions. Now in its sixth edition, the LCD Awards highlight the world’s best established and emerging cultural destinations, recognizing their exceptional contribution to cultural life.

On behalf of LCD Berlin, Florian Wupperfeld, Founder of Leading Culture Destinations, said: “Congratulations to the 18 outstanding cultural destinations that are this year's LCD Berlin Award, winners. These awards offer an opportunity to celebrate creativity, culture, and innovation, highlighting the most notable emerging and established cultural destinations across the globe while connecting arts and tourism. LCD Berlin would also like to thank our distinguished international jury, and our collaborating partners, Avis, Berlin's Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, Korn Ferry, Lord Cultural Resources, and SUNx, as well as all of our remarkable nominees—50 cultural destinations in 28 countries—who are shaping culture worldwide.”

The LCD Award 2020 winners have been selected by a distinguished international jury comprised of Matthew Anderson, European culture editor for The New York Times; Helena Egan, tourism and place-making specialist; Dr. Martin Heller, cultural advocate and arts patron; Oliver Jahn, editor-in-chief, AD Architectural Digest; Meryanne Loum-Martin, founder of AFRÆŽEculture.org; Dr. Thierry Morel, director, curator-at-large and board member of the Hermitage Foundation; artist Ahmet Ogut, and Salma Tuqan, deputy director of the Delfina Foundation.

In a joint statement, the jury noted: “The 2020 LCD Berlin Awards shine a light on culture, art, and travel, showcasing unique cultural experiences around the world. From local to global perspectives, the winners of the 2020 awards offer new and exciting opportunities to explore our relationship with public spaces, tradition, and identity. Over the years, the LCD Awards have offered a unique platform for the winners to showcase their cultural assets and reach global travelers wishing to immerse themselves in arts and culture. These winning destinations and institutions showcase just how deep the symbiosis between art, culture, and travel is.”

The winners of the LCD Berlin Awards for 2020, across six different sections, are:

LEADING CULTURE DESTINATIONS OF THE YEAR

The Leading Culture Destinations of the Year awards highlight the experiential shift of cultural destinations into social hubs where visitors can explore, dine, shop, work and even sleep.

Best Exhibition: Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future - Guggenheim New York (New York, USA)

Best Architecture: The Twist gallery - Bjarke Ingels (Kistefos Museum And Sculpture Park, Norway)

image The Twist gallery (Bjarke Ingels) at the Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park in Norway has won the LCD Berlin Leading Culture Destinations of the Year award for Best Architecture. The Twist gallery at the Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park in Norway. Photo © Kim Erlandsen

Best Restaurant: AlpiNN, Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography (Kronplatz, Brunico, Italy)

image AlpiNN – Food Space & Restaurant at Kronplatz, in Brunico, Italy, has won the LCD Berlin Award for Leading Culture Destinations of the Year - Best Museum Restaurant. AlpiNN Photo © Manuel Kottersteger

Best Shop: National Museum of Qatar (Doha, Qatar)

The National Museum of Qatar is the only cultural destination in the world to have won two prestigious LCD Berlin Awards for 2020: a New Culture Destinations of the Year award in the ‘Middle East and Africa’ category and a Leading Culture Destinations of the Year award for Best Museum Shop.

image View of National Museum of Qatar shop Photo © National Museum of Qatar

Best Digital Experience: Atelier des Lumières (Paris, France)

image The Atelier des Lumières in Paris, France, has won the LCD Berlin Leading Culture Destinations of the Year award for Best Digital Experience. Photo © Atelier des Lumières

NEW CULTURE DESTINATIONS OF THE YEAR

The awards for New Culture Destinations of the Year recognize the significant role of culture in changing the perception of towns and cities and influencing their future development.

Asia Pacific: UCCA Dune Art Museum (Beidaihe, China)

image UCCA Dune Art Museum in Beidaihe, China, has won the LCD Berlin Award for New Culture Destination of the Year in the ‘Asia Pacific’ category. UCCA Dune, Photo © Ni Nan

Europe: Amos Rex (Helsinki, Finland)

image Amos Rex has won the LCD Award for New Culture Destinations of the Year in the ‘Europe’ category. Photo © Amos Rex

Latin America: SFER IK Museion (Tulum, Mexico)

image SFER IK Museion has won the LCD Berlin Award for New Culture Destinations of the Year in the ‘Latin America’ category. SFER IK Museion Photo © Chino Moro

Middle East / Africa / UAE: National Museum of Qatar (Doha, Qatar)

image National Museum of Qatar. Photo Iwan Baan © National Museum of Qatar

North America: MoMA reopening (NYC, New York, USA)

image The LCD Berlin Award for New Culture Destination of the Year - North America was presented to MoMA - Museum of Modern Art. Installation view of Early Photography and Film (gallery 502), The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © 2019 The Museum of Modern Art. Photo: Jonathan Muzikar

SOFT POWER DESTINATIONS OF THE YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LORD CULTURAL RESOURCES

The Soft Power Destinations Awards recognize soft power best practices in cultural destinations. Soft Power Destinations have influence because they operate in a way that is accountable and transparent, and they seek to be excellent, relevant and sustainable in all that they do. The 2020 Awards mark the fourth Soft Power Destinations Awards, created as a collaboration between Lord Cultural Resources and Leading Culture Destinations.

Best Cultural Activation: The Heidelberg Project (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

image The Heidelberg Project in Detroit, USA, has won the LCD Berlin SoftPower Destinations of the Year award for ‘Best Cultural Activation’. The Heidelberg Project Dotty Wotty House © HP Archives

Best Cultural Organisation: Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (Sault Ste. Marie, Canada)

image Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada has won the LCD Berlin Soft Power Destinations of the Year award for Best Cultural Organisation. Photo © Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre

Best Cultural Collaboration: SAWA - Sharjah Museums Authority, UAE / State Museums of Berlin; University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HTW); Goethe-Institut, Germany (UAE / Germany)

image The SAWA Museum Academy has won the LCD Berlin Soft Power Destinations of the Year award for ‘Best Cultural Collaboration’. Photo © Sharjah Museums Authority

Gail Lord, President of Lord Cultural Resources, had this to say: “Thank you to the many inspiring organizations who applied to this year’s awards. The winners were selected for their particularly impressive work, but the numerous nominations we received from across the globe all demonstrate how culture is key to communities harnessing their soft power.”

Javier Jimenez, Director of Lord Cultural Resources, who presents this year’s winners at the 2020 awards, noted: “The Heidelberg Project, Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, and SAWA Museum Academy are all excellent examples of culture creating a positive impact in their communities. These destinations are not to be missed.”

AVIS TRAVELLERS' AWARDS

The Avis Travellers’ Awards celebrate creativity, culture and innovation, as well giving well deserved recognition to those dedicated to cultural pursuits. Avis aims to help its customers unlock the latest travel hotspots, drive the world’s best road trips and discover the ultimate destinations for culture, events and adventure.

Best Cultural Festival: Bergen Assembly (Bergen, Norway)

image The Bergen Assembly in Norway has won the LCD Berlin Avis Travellers’ Award for Best Cultural Festival. Photo © Bergen Assembly

Best Emerging Culture City: Tbilisi (Georgia)

image Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, has won the LCD Berlin Avis Travellers’ Award for ‘Best Emerging Culture City’. Tbilisi, Georgia Photo © LEPL Georgian National Tourism Administration

Best Art Hotel: The Fife Arms Hotel (Braemar, Scotland, UK)

image The Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, Scotland, has won the LCD Berlin Avis Travellers’ Award for Best Art Hotel. The Fife Arms, Braemar - Sharp The Dog Bedroom, Victoriana Suite. Photo: © Sim Canetty-Clarke

Julia Kemp, Avis Budget Group’s Director of International Sales & Partnerships, said: “Avis is delighted to support and collaborate with Leading Culture Destinations on the Avis Travellers’ Awards. The winners of Best Cultural Festival, Best Emerging Culture City and Best Art Hotel are all to be congratulated for their success in bringing local arts and culture to today’s traveler.”

CLIMATE SMART AWARD in partnership with SUNx

The Climate Smart Award, in partnership with the SunX Program, shines a light on cultural organizations that not only teach us about the past but also educate us about one of the biggest challenges in the future – climate change.

Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8° Ost (Bremerhaven, Germany)

image The Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8° Ost was awarded the LCD Berlin Climate Smart Award, in partnership with the SunX. / Klimahaus Bremerhaven Photo © Klimahaus

BRIDGING BORDERS: Best Cultural Initiative, presented by visitBerlin

To celebrate the first edition of the LCD Berlin Awards, LCD Berlin has introduced a new award that honors outstanding cultural initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue and create connections across physical or metaphorical borders. The winner Barenboim-Said Akademie (Berlin, Germany) was selected by public vote.


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