For its first edition in 2024, the Golden Rose Award – Young Friends of musée de Cluny has been awarded to the comic strip Ségurant, le chevalier au dragon by Emanuele Arioli, illustrated by Emiliano Tanzillo and published by Dargaud.

The 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich's birthday can certainly be described as a hype that will be felt in various other exhibitions and events in Germany in the course of the year.

From 15 to 17 March I had the pleasure of participating in the organisation of the XXX National Congress of Friends of Museums in Cáceres. Every year, the Spanish Federation of Friends of Museums (FEAM) holds a congress that brings together representatives of associations, programmes and foundations of Friends. This meeting forum aims to encourage debate on current issues of cultural interest as well as the management of associations and their activities in support of museums.

To celebrate National Craft Month, in March the Youth Ambassador of the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM), Heather Stracey, hosted an event called Carve & Craft Weekend: Inspired by Tunbridge Ware at The Amelia Scott (The Amelia) in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she works as the Senior Collections Officer. This event was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

After an initial meeting to find out about her workplace, Heather Stracey, Senior Collections Officer at The Amelia Scott (The Amelia), arranged to meet Naïma Sagna, WFFM Young Friends Coordinator, the following morning. This time, they were off to Cranbrook, Kent, a 30-minute drive from Royal Tunbridge Wells, to visit Cranbrook Museum, with whom The Amelia team regularly collaborate with, particularly on object loans.

After an initial stopover in Manchester, where she presented the WFFM's current Young Friends project to the BAFM regional delegates, Jean Knight (South East) and Margaret Stebbing (North West), our Young Friends Coordinator Naïma Sagna travelled to Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The BAFM (British Association of Friends of Museums) affirms its sincere ambition to integrate Young Friends into its actions: encouraging the creation of a Young Friends network in the United Kingdom is one of its short-term objectives.

This is how, for a few hours, Manchester has been at the crossroads of a meeting between : Naïma Sagna (Grenoble, France), Young Friends coordinator of the WFFM Jean Knight (Carshalton), South East regional coordinator of the BAFM Margaret Stebbing (Lancaster), North West regional coordinator of the BAFM

We are pleased to present the program of the upcoming meeting including special arrangements for Young Friends of the Museums. Our Friends of the Museums association is associated with the six museums and art centres of the City of Luxembourg. You will be welcomed and guided by their directors, introducing what makes each museum and art centre unique and original. 

Last October, Federação de Amigos dos Museus de Portugal (FAMP) organized in Coimbra what is becoming the traditional annual Youth Meeting. It was the second national event for young members of FAMP. Friends from all over the country gathered in this city which is home to the oldest university in Portugal, Universidade de Coimbra, hosting Portugal’s most prized library, built by King John V in the eighteenth-century.

The II Youth Meeting of Friends of Museums was held in October of last year. This time, the gathering took place in Coimbra, a city steeped in history as the resting place of the first king of Portugal, making it a remarkable location for exploring our cultural identity.

The French Group Action Jeunes : a dynamic relationship between young people and museums

On Saturday 3rd, February 2024, the Friends of the Musée de Cluny association met in Villers-Cotterêts for a cultural outing, under the impetus of the Young Friends, joined by the "Action Jeunes" group of the Fédération Française des Associations d'Amis de Musées. It was a memorable day, with nearly fifty participants, including around twenty Young Friends.

On January 31st 2024, we were thrilled to welcome Dr. Shelley Ruth Butler to present an Introduction to Curatorial Dreaming to the Young Friends of the WFFM! 

Twice a year the young friends club of the German Federation of Friends of museum come together to discuss problems, ideas and anything in between. For the last meeting, they were invited by the friends of the Kunsthalle Mannheim to host our conference on the 17th and 18th November 2023.

Conservationist and influential supporter of museums in Australia and internationally, Caroline (Carol) Serventy OAM passed away in December 2023. Carol and her husband, Vincent Serventy, were noted conservationists in the 1960s and 1970, and encouraged Australians to protect their natural environment.

Naïma Sagna, WFFM Young Friends coordinator, welcomes the 5 participants to the very 1st meeting of the international Young Friends delegates committee on Monday 4 December 2023.

Our motto speaks to the heart of what we cultivate: community through culture, and we continue to be inspired by our members, and by Young Friends groups across the globe.

After a first day where Naïma made contact with Florence Reckinger-Taddeï (President), Bärbel Aubert (Secretary) and Young Friends delegates Mélanie de Jamblinne and Joana Weitzel, the second and final day confirmed the promising beginnings of this collaboration.

International, multilingual, cultural: it's no coincidence that Luxembourg was named the European Capital of Culture in 1995 and 2007, and that it's THE destination for the next WFFM Congress to be held from 2 to 5 May 2024.

👋 Let's talk about the amazing Young Friends network in Luxembourg (where our General Assembly will be held from 2 to 5 May 2024)!