Spitfire LA198, hanging from the roof of Kelvingrove's west court. © Glasgow City Council (Museums)
2007 Museums & Heritage Awards were announced at a ceremony at London’s New Connaught Rooms on May 9.
Created by The Museums & Heritage Show, and supported by Heritage365 magazine, the Awards recognise and celebrate best practice within museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions.
Winners include Historic Royal Palaces for the restoration of Kew Palace, Kelvingrove for its ground-breaking new galleries and Sir Neil Cossons, Chairman of English Heritage, who picked up an award for major contributions he has made to the industry throughout his career.
Kew Palace, home of George III and family in the early 1800s. © Historic Royal Palaces / newsteam.co.uk
“The evening was great fun and a huge success,” said Anna Preedy, Director of the Museums & Heritage Show and founder of the awards. “The Awards provide those within the industry a great occasion to shout about just some of the spectacular projects that are taking place in the UK’s cultural attractions today.”
Other winners included the Old Operating Theatre Museum’s exhibition, Tales from the Crypt, which won an award for best project on a limited budget, whilst Glasgow City Council’s ambitious and challenging HLF funded schools and museums educational project won an award for Best Educational Initiative.
World Museum Liverpool scooped the Best Temporary Exhibition Award for Eye for Colour, a hands-on and interactive exploration of the endless ways in which colour shapes our world.
The What On Earth Galleries at Weston Park showcase the city's famous natural history collection. © Sheffield Museums Trust
The Heritage 365 reader’s award went to the recently opened Weston Park Museum in Sheffield, whilst the Classic Award went to Tyne and Wear Museums.
The Awards were judged by a panel of industry professionals, including: Sam Mullins, Director of London Transport Museum; Bernard Donoghue, Head of Government and Public Affairs at VisitBritain, Phil Reed, Director of The Churchill Museum and Greg Chamberlain, Editor of New Heritage Magazine.
“Not only do the Awards provide a much needed platform to celebrate the incredible achievements of our cultural attractions, they also provide us all with an opportunity to share in the wealth of knowledge and experience that exists within our industry,” added Anna Preedy.
