www.show.me.uk is up for yet another award!
Show Me, the 24 Hour Museum zone for children, has beaten off the competition to get nominated for a prestigious BAFTA Interactive Award.
Run by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the awards are seen as the number one international event rewarding achievement in innovation and creativity in the new media industries.
Speaking just moments after receiving the news, Show Me Editor and 24 Hour Museum Education Officer, Anra Kennedy said: "I'm really thrilled - it's fantastic that cultural, non-commercial content is being recognised in this way, and on our first birthday too - thank you BAFTA!"
The site was initially launched in a prototype form back in 2002, but the complete and award-winning version is about to celebrate its first birthday.
Launched in December 2003 and funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation, www.show.me.uk offers a gateway to the museum world for children aged between four and 11.
The site brings together the most unusual, interesting and exciting physical and virtual projects, exhibitions and games produced in the UK’s museums and galleries.
"The shortlisting isn't just a boost for Show Me," added Anra. "We're a reflection of the lively and innovative online content being created for children by museums and galleries across the UK, so this is a nomination for all of those institutions too."
Nominated in the Children’s Learning category, Show Me is up against the likes of the BBC, Channel 4 and the Culture Online-funded Headline History.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is the leading organisation of its kind in the UK.
This latest accolade caps what has been a fantastic first 12 months for the site. As well as being named best Arts, Culture and Heritage project at the Charity Awards in June, Show Me was highly commended in the Educational Initiative category at the Museum and Heritage Awards for Excellence back in May.
"The next step is to secure long-term, core funding for the site," explained Anra, "which would enable us to really expand and build upon Show Me's massive potential."
Created to recognise and reward talent in interactivity, the BAFTA Interactive Awards aim to reflect the diversity of genres and media in the entertainment sphere.
Categories encompass interactive art, learning, factual, music, on-line entertainment, DVD, interactive television, news and sport, design, film, and technical & social innovation delivered in a variety of formats.
One of the liveliest areas of the site is always the Show and Tell section where readers' work is displayed.
This year, almost 400 projects were entered for nomination, a third more than last year, and whittled down by juries of key interactive industry figures.
Among Show Me’s fellow nominees are the Science Museum, the National Theatre, Guardian Newspapers Ltd, Christian Aid, MTV, EMI and the BBC.
"This year's nominees are a testament to the creative and innovative work going on within the industry," explained Grant Dean, committee Chair. "Congratulations to them all."
Set to be held at the Café Royal in London on Wednesday March 2 2005, the award ceremony will be hosted by Radio 4 News Quiz regular, Jeremy Hardy.
