Dubbed the Oscars of the museum world, the Museum + Heritage Awards recognise excellence across the industry.
This year’s ceremony took place at Hilton Park Lane in London, where 18 awards were presented to museums of all sizes from all over the world ranging from Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in New Zealand to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Introduced for the first time, the Museums and Heritage Sector Impact Award aims to highlight the people and organisations driving positive change, and was awarded this year to museum consultant Sam Bowen for her work on the SEND in Museums campaign.
Anna Preedy, director of Museums + Heritage Awards said: “As we celebrate excellence in museums and heritage, I want to reflect on the profound importance of your work to society. Museums and cultural institutions serve as custodians of our collective memory, guardians of our heritage, and catalysts for dialogue, understanding, and empathy.
“In a world often divided, you offer spaces of unity, inspiration, and hope – reminding us of our shared humanity and the power of culture to transcend barriers.”
Judges’ special recognition award
Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester, UK
As part of the School of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) carries out research that stimulates new thinking and creative practice enabling cultural organisations to become more ambitious and impactful in nurturing more equitable and inclusive societies.
The judges said: “Celebrating a team whose ethical heart and bravery are matched only by its kindness and steadfastness, RCMG is unstinting in supporting our sector to be more bold, more ambitious, and more impactful in its socially engaged thinking and practice.”
The Mary Rose Trust - Dive 4D The Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, UK
Launched in April 2023, this 4D immersive cinema experience tells the story of the finding, excavation and recovery of the Mary Rose.
Visitors hear the stories of the people who dived on the ship, before entering the 4D theatre and joining the divers as they discover the first timbers, excavate the 34m-long shipwreck, recover her treasures and return the Mary Rose to the surface for the first time in 437 years. The experience is brought to life with a combination of archive footage and CGI, as well as multi-sensory features including sounds, smells, bubbles, wind and movement.
The judges said: “The impact this digital installation has had on its organisation should not be underestimated, demonstrating how technology can be transformative when opportunities are maximised”
The Mary Rose Museum was praised for its innovative use of technology in Dive 4D / Photo: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Photo: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Best Use of Digital – International
Te Kōtiu immersive projection experience, Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Auckland, New Zealand
This immersive digital experience celebrates the stories of flight in New Zealand, from the migration of native Kuaka, to celebrating the growing diversity within the aviation and space industries.
Visitors see history come to life with bold balloonists, the glorious gliding of pioneer aviator George Bolt, and the extraordinary feats and records of leading Aotearoa (New Zealand) aviators such as Jean Batten. Stories are brought to life with a mix of video, animation, oral story-telling and soundscape.
The judges said: Bringing objects and stories to life, with beautiful simplicity being its strength, this great use of digital technology is both impactful and effective.
Digital technology was used to bring stories of flight in New Zealand to life / Photo: Museum of Transport & Technology
Permanent exhibition of the year
South Asia Gallery: a British Museum partnership, Manchester Museum, Manchester, UK
The first permanent gallery in the UK to celebrate the experiences and contribution of the South Asian diaspora, this exhibition displays material from the British Museum alongside the best of South Asian collections in Manchester. Co-curated with the South Asia Gallery Collective – a group of 30 people from varying disciplines – this story-led, multilingual gallery was launched in February 2023.
The judges said: “This winning exhibition is viewed as a watershed moment for the sector. There is perhaps no better way to sum up its impact than by quoting one of its visitors: “The honesty of the impact of colonialism in our communities is one of the reasons I will be bringing not only my South Asian friends, family and my parents to the museum, but also my non-South Asian loved ones too; the gallery shares a part of me that I may not have been able to express in words to them before. Places we have felt excluded from our whole lives and shield our parents away from, I now walk into proudly.”
The South Asia Gallery in Manchester Museum was praised by judges / Photo: Tobias Longmate/Manchester Museum
International museum of the year
Mission Masterpiece at the Rijksmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum’s first exhibition aimed specifically at children invited visitors to investigate real works of art in the museum using microscopes and x-ray machines.
A partner project between the Rijksmuseum and NEMO Science Museum, Mission Masterpiece saw the entire Philips Wing transformed into a huge research lab, where families could use microscopes and x-ray machines to search for genuine masterpieces.
The judges praised the Mission Masterpiece exhibition, saying: “Featuring the perfect balance of old and new tech, this brilliantly executed family exhibition was built on detailed research, bringing the behind-the-scenes of the museum to life for families and children.”
Children were invited to become science investigators at the Rijksmuseum / Photo: Rijksmuseum/Olivier Middendorp
Temporary or touring exhibition of the year – budget over £80K
Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS, Migration Museum: Various locations around the UK
Created to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS, this touring exhibition from London’s Migration Museum shines a light on the stories and experiences of people who moved to Britain to work in the NHS through photography, film, oral histories and an immersive experience that brings together singing and storytelling.
The exhibition launched at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, before moving to Trinity Leeds and then to Lewisham Shopping Centre. It ran until July 2024.
The judges said: “With an impressively wide reach, this exhibition tells an important story from a new angle in a way that is warm, impactful, universal and all on a relatively low budget.”
Multaka-Oxford, History of Science Museum & Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, UK
The award-winning Multaka-Oxford team was formed in 2018 with the aim of bringing communities together by sharing the rich knowledge and heritage of people from all over the world who have made their home in Oxfordshire.
Multaka-Oxford uses museums and their collections as a ‘meeting point’ for bringing people together. Funded by a donation from Alwaleed Philanthropies, the group is based at Oxford University’s History of Science Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum.
The judges said: “Deep, broad, impactful, authentic and genuine were a few of the words used to describe this winning programme by an organisation at the top of its game, in undertaking strategically impressive work.”
Judges described the MultakaOxford project as “impactful and genuine” / iPhoto: Oxford Atelier
Temporary or touring exhibition of the year – budget under £80K
A Hip Hop Journey: 50 Years of Kulture, Leeds City Museum, UK
Co-curated with Leeds Museums and Galleries and the volunteer-run Hip Hop Historian Society, this exhibition showcased the history of hip hop and its impact in Leeds.
Working with inspirational local artists, renowned record shops, and communities from Leeds and Yorkshire, the exhibition brought together stories and objects which celebrate the creativity of hip hop and its values of justice, peace, respect, self-worth and community.
The judges said: “This winning exhibition shows co-curation at its very best; a genuine community response, it is authentic and creative, achieving impressive scale on a tiny budget.”
Leeds City Museum worked with the community to create this hip hop exhibition / Photo: Leeds Museum & Galleries
The other winners
• Innovator of the Year
PinPoint Visualisation Limited, Voyager Art
• Volunteer(s) of the Year
Suffolk Archives/Suffolk County Council, Kamal Faizi – Suffolk Archives and Volunteering Matters
• Team of the Year sponsored by Scutum Group Ltd
The Powell – Cotton Museum, Skulls on the move!
• Cafe or Restaurant of the Year
The Bowes Museum, Café Bowes
• Learning Programme of the Year
Horniman Museum and Gardens, Secondary School Programme
• Visitor Welcome Award sponsored by Tyg Ltd
Museum of the North, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Judges’ Special Recognition Award
Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester
• Marketing + Communications Campaign of the Year sponsored by Cabbells Ltd
The Tank Museum, YouTube & The Creator Economy
• Partnership of the Year
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, A partnership between the Mary Rose Trust and the National Museum of the Royal Navy
• Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year
The Churches Conservation Trust, Bees, Bodies, Bodley – The (Re)Birth of Sudbury Arts Centre
• Shop of the Year
Shakespeare’s Globe, The Globe Shop
• Sustainable Project of the Year, which was sponsored by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Joint winners: Manchester Museum and Museum Development North West
• Roots and Branches
The Scottish Crannog Centre, 1000 Fingerprints 1000 Voices
Multimedia: Sakchin Bessette
How did the team at Moment Factory go from designing visuals for raves to illuminating the Sagrada Familia and creating stage shows for Madonna? The co-founder shares the journey
Museums: Roll of honour
From the Rijksmuseum’s first family exhibition to a 4D experience that wows on a budget, we check out Museum + Heritage Award winners
Theme parks: Cecil Magpuri
Work has begun on the first Dragon Ball theme park, and it’s set to take theming to a whole new level, according to its designer
Museums: Rise up
Filled with colour, music, technology and storytelling, the John K Randle Center is a fitting celebration of Yoruban culture and history, says its architect Seun Oduwole
Experiences: Flight of fancy
Airbnb is diving into the world of immersive experiences with its new Icons initiative. What does this mean for attractions?
Immersive experience: Andrew McGuinness
As Layered Reality prepares to launch its highly-anticipated Elvis Experience, we speak to its CEO about the business of wowing visitors
Zoos: Making a difference
Visiting zoos and aquaria inspires people to act more sustainably, finds a study from the University of Sheffield and Chester Zoo
Tourism: Vertical reality
From energy-generating viewing pods to world-class art installations, a new generation of vertical attractions is shaking up the scene. Dr Terry Stevens investigates
Dubbed the Oscars of the museum world, the Museum + Heritage Awards recognise excellence across the industry.
This year’s ceremony took place at Hilton Park Lane in London, where 18 awards were presented to museums of all sizes from all over the world ranging from Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in New Zealand to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Introduced for the first time, the Museums and Heritage Sector Impact Award aims to highlight the people and organisations driving positive change, and was awarded this year to museum consultant Sam Bowen for her work on the SEND in Museums campaign.
Anna Preedy, director of Museums + Heritage Awards said: “As we celebrate excellence in museums and heritage, I want to reflect on the profound importance of your work to society. Museums and cultural institutions serve as custodians of our collective memory, guardians of our heritage, and catalysts for dialogue, understanding, and empathy.
“In a world often divided, you offer spaces of unity, inspiration, and hope – reminding us of our shared humanity and the power of culture to transcend barriers.”
Judges’ special recognition award
Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester, UK
As part of the School of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) carries out research that stimulates new thinking and creative practice enabling cultural organisations to become more ambitious and impactful in nurturing more equitable and inclusive societies.
The judges said: “Celebrating a team whose ethical heart and bravery are matched only by its kindness and steadfastness, RCMG is unstinting in supporting our sector to be more bold, more ambitious, and more impactful in its socially engaged thinking and practice.”
The Mary Rose Trust - Dive 4D The Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, UK
Launched in April 2023, this 4D immersive cinema experience tells the story of the finding, excavation and recovery of the Mary Rose.
Visitors hear the stories of the people who dived on the ship, before entering the 4D theatre and joining the divers as they discover the first timbers, excavate the 34m-long shipwreck, recover her treasures and return the Mary Rose to the surface for the first time in 437 years. The experience is brought to life with a combination of archive footage and CGI, as well as multi-sensory features including sounds, smells, bubbles, wind and movement.
The judges said: “The impact this digital installation has had on its organisation should not be underestimated, demonstrating how technology can be transformative when opportunities are maximised”
The Mary Rose Museum was praised for its innovative use of technology in Dive 4D / Photo: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Photo: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Best Use of Digital – International
Te Kōtiu immersive projection experience, Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Auckland, New Zealand
This immersive digital experience celebrates the stories of flight in New Zealand, from the migration of native Kuaka, to celebrating the growing diversity within the aviation and space industries.
Visitors see history come to life with bold balloonists, the glorious gliding of pioneer aviator George Bolt, and the extraordinary feats and records of leading Aotearoa (New Zealand) aviators such as Jean Batten. Stories are brought to life with a mix of video, animation, oral story-telling and soundscape.
The judges said: Bringing objects and stories to life, with beautiful simplicity being its strength, this great use of digital technology is both impactful and effective.
Digital technology was used to bring stories of flight in New Zealand to life / Photo: Museum of Transport & Technology
Permanent exhibition of the year
South Asia Gallery: a British Museum partnership, Manchester Museum, Manchester, UK
The first permanent gallery in the UK to celebrate the experiences and contribution of the South Asian diaspora, this exhibition displays material from the British Museum alongside the best of South Asian collections in Manchester. Co-curated with the South Asia Gallery Collective – a group of 30 people from varying disciplines – this story-led, multilingual gallery was launched in February 2023.
The judges said: “This winning exhibition is viewed as a watershed moment for the sector. There is perhaps no better way to sum up its impact than by quoting one of its visitors: “The honesty of the impact of colonialism in our communities is one of the reasons I will be bringing not only my South Asian friends, family and my parents to the museum, but also my non-South Asian loved ones too; the gallery shares a part of me that I may not have been able to express in words to them before. Places we have felt excluded from our whole lives and shield our parents away from, I now walk into proudly.”
The South Asia Gallery in Manchester Museum was praised by judges / Photo: Tobias Longmate/Manchester Museum
International museum of the year
Mission Masterpiece at the Rijksmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum’s first exhibition aimed specifically at children invited visitors to investigate real works of art in the museum using microscopes and x-ray machines.
A partner project between the Rijksmuseum and NEMO Science Museum, Mission Masterpiece saw the entire Philips Wing transformed into a huge research lab, where families could use microscopes and x-ray machines to search for genuine masterpieces.
The judges praised the Mission Masterpiece exhibition, saying: “Featuring the perfect balance of old and new tech, this brilliantly executed family exhibition was built on detailed research, bringing the behind-the-scenes of the museum to life for families and children.”
Children were invited to become science investigators at the Rijksmuseum / Photo: Rijksmuseum/Olivier Middendorp
Temporary or touring exhibition of the year – budget over £80K
Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS, Migration Museum: Various locations around the UK
Created to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS, this touring exhibition from London’s Migration Museum shines a light on the stories and experiences of people who moved to Britain to work in the NHS through photography, film, oral histories and an immersive experience that brings together singing and storytelling.
The exhibition launched at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, before moving to Trinity Leeds and then to Lewisham Shopping Centre. It ran until July 2024.
The judges said: “With an impressively wide reach, this exhibition tells an important story from a new angle in a way that is warm, impactful, universal and all on a relatively low budget.”
Multaka-Oxford, History of Science Museum & Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, UK
The award-winning Multaka-Oxford team was formed in 2018 with the aim of bringing communities together by sharing the rich knowledge and heritage of people from all over the world who have made their home in Oxfordshire.
Multaka-Oxford uses museums and their collections as a ‘meeting point’ for bringing people together. Funded by a donation from Alwaleed Philanthropies, the group is based at Oxford University’s History of Science Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum.
The judges said: “Deep, broad, impactful, authentic and genuine were a few of the words used to describe this winning programme by an organisation at the top of its game, in undertaking strategically impressive work.”
Judges described the MultakaOxford project as “impactful and genuine” / iPhoto: Oxford Atelier
Temporary or touring exhibition of the year – budget under £80K
A Hip Hop Journey: 50 Years of Kulture, Leeds City Museum, UK
Co-curated with Leeds Museums and Galleries and the volunteer-run Hip Hop Historian Society, this exhibition showcased the history of hip hop and its impact in Leeds.
Working with inspirational local artists, renowned record shops, and communities from Leeds and Yorkshire, the exhibition brought together stories and objects which celebrate the creativity of hip hop and its values of justice, peace, respect, self-worth and community.
The judges said: “This winning exhibition shows co-curation at its very best; a genuine community response, it is authentic and creative, achieving impressive scale on a tiny budget.”
Leeds City Museum worked with the community to create this hip hop exhibition / Photo: Leeds Museum & Galleries
The other winners
• Innovator of the Year
PinPoint Visualisation Limited, Voyager Art
• Volunteer(s) of the Year
Suffolk Archives/Suffolk County Council, Kamal Faizi – Suffolk Archives and Volunteering Matters
• Team of the Year sponsored by Scutum Group Ltd
The Powell – Cotton Museum, Skulls on the move!
• Cafe or Restaurant of the Year
The Bowes Museum, Café Bowes
• Learning Programme of the Year
Horniman Museum and Gardens, Secondary School Programme
• Visitor Welcome Award sponsored by Tyg Ltd
Museum of the North, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Judges’ Special Recognition Award
Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester
• Marketing + Communications Campaign of the Year sponsored by Cabbells Ltd
The Tank Museum, YouTube & The Creator Economy
• Partnership of the Year
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, A partnership between the Mary Rose Trust and the National Museum of the Royal Navy
• Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year
The Churches Conservation Trust, Bees, Bodies, Bodley – The (Re)Birth of Sudbury Arts Centre
• Shop of the Year
Shakespeare’s Globe, The Globe Shop
• Sustainable Project of the Year, which was sponsored by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Joint winners: Manchester Museum and Museum Development North West
• Roots and Branches
The Scottish Crannog Centre, 1000 Fingerprints 1000 Voices
Multimedia: Sakchin Bessette
How did the team at Moment Factory go from designing visuals for raves to illuminating the Sagrada Familia and creating stage shows for Madonna? The co-founder shares the journey
Museums: Roll of honour
From the Rijksmuseum’s first family exhibition to a 4D experience that wows on a budget, we check out Museum + Heritage Award winners
Theme parks: Cecil Magpuri
Work has begun on the first Dragon Ball theme park, and it’s set to take theming to a whole new level, according to its designer
Museums: Rise up
Filled with colour, music, technology and storytelling, the John K Randle Center is a fitting celebration of Yoruban culture and history, says its architect Seun Oduwole
Experiences: Flight of fancy
Airbnb is diving into the world of immersive experiences with its new Icons initiative. What does this mean for attractions?
Immersive experience: Andrew McGuinness
As Layered Reality prepares to launch its highly-anticipated Elvis Experience, we speak to its CEO about the business of wowing visitors
Zoos: Making a difference
Visiting zoos and aquaria inspires people to act more sustainably, finds a study from the University of Sheffield and Chester Zoo
Tourism: Vertical reality
From energy-generating viewing pods to world-class art installations, a new generation of vertical attractions is shaking up the scene. Dr Terry Stevens investigates
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
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