The European Museum Forum is a museum organisation, operating under the auspices of the Council of Europe. This non-profit charity is one of the leading organisations in Europe for developing the public quality of European museums. It has established this primary position after 37 years of providing its services. Since 1977 the European Museum Forum organises the annual European Museum of the Year Award. This prize is awarded to museums that stand out in terms of innovation and public quality. Museums in 47 European countries, all members of the Council of Europe, can take part in the competition if they are newly opened or have undergone modernisation or expansion in the past two years.