Few local institutions in Hungary have the kind of impact that the Tomory Lajos Museum of Budapest’s 18th District has achieved. This time, however, international recognition has arrived: the museum has been featured as a highlighted best practice in the fifth edition of the globally renowned Museum Basics: The International Handbook by Timothy Ambrose and Crispin Paine.

This 400+ page English-language museology manual showcases how museums around the world are adapting to the challenges of the 21st century. The Tomory Lajos Museum is the only Hungarian institution included—not just as a case study, but as a representative of national best practices, collaborative methods, and community-based approaches.

A Community Museum That Goes Beyond Itself The Tomory Lajos Museum is not a traditional urban museum: its strong local roots, community-oriented operations, and strategic foresight have made it an internationally acknowledged example. Since 2008, it has undergone targeted development: new exhibition venues, thematic collections, digital solutions, and interactive community programs—all supported in various ways by its maintainer, the 18th District Municipality of Budapest. While the main building is still under renovation, the museum already operates five exhibition spaces, organizes 20–30 exhibitions per year, and welcomes more than 15,000 program participants annually.

Initiatives aimed at preserving and showcasing local identity—such as the aviation history exhibition at Aeropark or the Kondor Béla Memorial Room—serve as models. The museum also supports other initiatives, such as the operation of the Nemcsics Antal Memorial House.

A Global Role Model Among Small Museums Chapter 10 of Museum Basics, which focuses on museum leadership and strategic management, features the Tomory Lajos Museum under the title “A Small Museum in a Big City.” The selection was no coincidence: the authors sought institutions that deliver exemplary results with limited resources. The museum was recommended by members of ICOM Hungary and reviewed by several Hungarian experts following the English translation—most notably the professionals at the Herman Ottó Museum in Miskolc, translator Gabriella Frank, and advisor Arnold Tóth.

Collaboration, Sustainability, Community The Tomory Lajos Museum is exceptional not only in its exhibition spaces but also in its institutional philosophy. It functions as a truly community-based organization, actively partnering with over 90 public, civil, and religious institutions across the district. This network enables unique initiatives, such as open-air local history programs during the pandemic or QR-code-based educational walks and games developed with high school students.

The museum also provides space for other organizations’ events in its 5,000 m² garden, hosting film screenings, grandparent-grandchild programs, and environmental awareness events.

Behind Every Success, There Are People The museum is run by a team of 11 staff members—9 professionals and 2 administrative personnel—who work with dedication, openness, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning. In 2023, its exhibitions attracted 134,563 visitors, a noteworthy achievement at the national level.

A Museum Model That Looks to the Future The Tomory Lajos Museum proves that the success of public cultural institutions doesn’t hinge on large budgets but on strategic planning, authentic professional work, strong community ties, and—crucially—a supportive and cooperative maintainer. It’s no coincidence that when the handbook was presented to cultural government representatives, their first reaction was to emphasize that no successful museum can exist without a committed maintainer. The Municipality of the 18th District has been more than a funder—it has played an active, generative role in the museum’s development. Without this support, such international professional recognition would not have been possible.

This global acknowledgment thus honors not only the institution itself but also Hungary’s museum sector and the exemplary approach of its local government. The 18th District can truly be proud, as the Tomory Lajos Museum stands as one of the most successful models of a 21st-century Hungarian cultural institution.