The Angra do Heroísmo Museum was honoured this year, as it happened in 2013, 2014 and 2015, with one of APOM national prizes, an initiative of the Portuguese Museum Association. This time, it was awarded in the "Best Visitable Collection" category and distinguishes the newly created Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima Military History Centre.
The Angra do Heroísmo Museum is the only Azorean museum and one of the few in the country that has been consecutively distinguished by APOM, having received in 2013 the prize for "Best Cultural Extension Service/Educational Service." In 2014, it was distinguished with an honourable mention in the "Multimedia Journalistic Work" category, with the Open Museum project and, in 2015, it won the prize for "Best Online Website."
In 2016, Francisco Maduro-Dias, a museologist who works as a senior technician at this institution, was awarded the title of "Personality of the Year" in the area of Museology.
This year's prize, awarded at a ceremony held at Soares dos Reis Museum in Oporto, distinguishes the Military Collection from Angra do Heroísmo Museum, installed last year at the Manuel Coelho Baptista Military History Centre; the latter is the former Boa Nova Military Hospital. It features light and heavy artillery pieces, firearms, knives, missiles, logistics equipment, harnesses, uniforms and decorations.
This collection is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 5:30 PM, involving three themed exhibitions of long duration. In addition to depicting the evolution and functionality of weapons and an invitation to reflect on major ethical, moral and social issues in war conflicts, it documents the personality and personal experiences of its patron and the history of the building.
At the same time, reserved areas, where the considerable part of the collection is accommodated, may be visited monthly under the programme for the projection and dissemination of the Military History Centre, designated as "Boa Nova at Night," whose next edition takes place on June 16, between 8 PM and 12 AM.
In addition to visits to exhibition centres and reserved areas in this special edition celebrating the APOM Prize, the initiative includes musical performances. There is also the possibility of visiting the outdoor area, where antiaircraft batteries on display.
The former Boa Nova Military Hospital, where the Manuel Baptista de Lima Military History Centre is installed, is a building built from scratch for that purpose at the time of Dynastic Union in the early 17th century. It is located on the flank of the imposing Philippine fortress, commonly known as São João Baptista Castle.
Founded in 1965, APOM is a Portuguese organisation of professionals working at museums or similar institutions.
The APOM prizes, awarded since 1997, distinguish the work carried out and developed in the year prior the awarding of the prize, thus enhancing the visibility of what we do best in the area of museology.
These prizes aim to encourage and reward the imagination and creativity of Portuguese museologists and their effective contribution to improving the quality of museums in Portugal.