Latest news with #JennyWaldman
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beamish: Open-air attraction in County Durham wins Museum of the Year
An open-air museum in County Durham that features faithful recreations of old homes, shops, farms and a colliery has won the annual award for the UK's museum of the The Living Museum of the North, brings the history of the region from the 1820s to the 1950s to life through a series of immersive museum, which opened in 1972 and aims to preserve local heritage, will receive £120,000 prize Fund director Jenny Waldman, the chair of the judges, described Beamish as "a joyous, immersive and unique place" that had been "a jewel in the crown of the North East for 55 years". The museum allows visitors to travel back in time to look around replica towns, villages and working landscapes from bygone days, meeting costumed staff and volunteers to experience stories of everyday the past year, the museum has completed its Remaking Beamish project, which saw the opening of a 1950s town, developed with input from local people who had first-hand knowledge of that recreated town includes a milk bar, pub, a photographer's studio, transport such as trams and old cars, and shops including a confectioner's. The project saw 32,000 local residents and 14,000 schoolchildren contribute to 31 new past 12 months have also seen the museum open a string of miners' cottages, which tell the story of the pioneering welfare provision for retired workers in County had more than 830,000 visitors last Secretary Lisa Nandy said the award "recognises the extraordinary contribution that Beamish has made to celebrate the heritage of the North East". Waldman added: "The judges were blown away by the remarkable attention to detail of its exhibits across a 350-acre site and by the passion of its staff and volunteers. "With three quarters of adults in the North East of England saying museums make them proud of where they live, Beamish is a shining example of how museums enrich and celebrate local communities."Fellow judge and comedian Phil Wang said the panel's visit to the venue "was one of the most fun days I've had in years".Beamish chief executive Rhiannon Hiles was presented with the £120,000 prize at a ceremony at the Museum of Liverpool on Thursday. The other shortlisted museums were:Chapter (Cardiff)Compton Verney (Warwickshire)Golden Thread Gallery (Belfast)Perth Museum (Perth & Kinross)Each finalist will receive £15, Art Fund Prize was launched in 2008, becoming Museum of the Year in 2013. Last year's winner was the Young V&A in east London.
Evening Standard
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North wins Museum Of The Year award
Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund and chairwoman of the judges for Art Fund Museum Of The Year, added: 'Beamish is a museum brought to life by people – a joyous, immersive and unique place shaped by the stories and experiences of its community.
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Art Fund to launch £5m project for UK museums to share their collections
A £5m project in which 20 museums will share their collections and expertise with each other could revolutionise the touring model in the UK. Going Places has been developed by Art Fund, the charity that secures art for public collections while providing financial support for museums, and will will involve local people when the nationwide project launches in May 2026. Billed as 'the UK's largest ever collaborative touring project', several institutions will work together on themed exhibitions, while 'pooling resources, sharing expertise and working together'. Museums that wanted to take part met up and underwent a 'matchmaking' process where they identified themes that interested them before splitting into groups. Museums Worcestershire, OnFife and Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance will collaborate on exhibitions ingfocus on the female artists within their collections. Aberdeenshire Council, Armagh city, Banbridge and Craigavon borough council and the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool take on the theme of 'journeys', encompassing 'migration and exile to the milestones, traditions and celebrations'. Blackwell Arts & Crafts House, Dovecot Studios, Tŷ Pawb and William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, east London, reconsider the arts and crafts movement as 'a starting point to consider the politics, social values, and new possibilities emerging around contemporary forms of manufacturing'. Art Fund's chief executive, Jenny Waldman, said the project was a way for museums to reduce costs at a time when many are facing funding squeezes. Waldman said: 'Our museum directors surveys told us 63% of museums want to work with other museums on ambitious shows because they bring in new audiences but they are expensive.' An exhibition at the Bowes Museum in County Durham. Photograph: Bowes Museum 'People can see the extraordinary collections we've got across the UK, museums can reach new audience and it is done in a sustainable way.' Local communities will also have the chance to collaborate with curators and decide what will be included in exhibitions. Waldman said the scheme was similar to the highly praised initiative by the Manchester Museum when it involved the local south Asian community in giving input into its £15m galleries that opened in 2023. Waldman said: 'The Manchester Museum showed that if the items and stories are interesting to the communities who are making the exhibition then its likely they will be interesting to other people too.' skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to The Guide Get our weekly pop culture email, free in your inbox every Friday Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Going Places is funded by grants, with £2.86m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £1.5m from the Julia Rausing Trust, the philanthropic organisation. Simon Fourmy, director of the Julia Rausing Trust, said the project represented an 'innovative collaborative approach in the creation of touring exhibitions', while National Lottery Heritage Fund chief executive, Eilish McGuinness, said Going Places allowed museums to 'share diverse and much-loved collections in a unique and dynamic way'. Last week the shortlist for the Art Fund museum of the year 2025 prize was revealed. It featured museums from all four nations of the UK, including Beamish in County Durham, Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, the Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast and Perth Museum, home of the Stone of Destiny, in Scotland. A prize of £120,000 goes to the winner and an additional £15,000 is awarded to each of the finalists. Last year's winner was the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, east London.
STV News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Scots attraction shortlisted for Museum Of The Year Award and £120,000 prize
Five UK attractions have been shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum Of The Year Award 2025 with a chance to win its £120,000 prize. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in County Durham, Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast, and Perth Museum have all been nominated for the award, with the winner being announced on June 26. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Liverpool, the first time the award has been presented outside London, with the four losing finalists receiving £15,000 each. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is an open air museum, looking at life in the north east of England in the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s, while Chapter is a Welsh arts centre made up of a gallery, artist studios, theatres, cinemas, a cafe bar, and community garden. PA Media Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is among the museums shortlisted. PA Media Compton Verney is an art gallery with six installations, Golden Thread Gallery is a Northern Irish contemporary art gallery and Perth Museum looks at 10,000 years of Scottish and world history through a local lens. Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, who will chair the judging panel, said: 'This year's finalists are inspiring examples of museums at their best – deeply connected to their local communities, responsive to the world around them, and alive with energy and ideas. 'Each one offers a distinctive experience, showing the endless creativity and care that goes into making museums inspiring and exciting spaces for everyone. PA Media Chapter in Cardiff has been nominated. PA Media 'Art Fund is proud to celebrate their work and support their ambition through Art Fund Museum of the Year. 'We hope people across the UK will be inspired to visit these remarkable places and museums in their local area to discover the powerful role they can play in our lives.' The award aims to recognise inspiring projects and activity from autumn 2023 through to winter 2024, looking at the overall achievements of the organisation, impactful projects, staff and volunteers, and community engagement. The prize is funded by Art Fund members who buy a National Art Pass. STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Perth Museum shortlisted for Museum Of The Year Award
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Liverpool, the first time the award has been presented outside London, with the four losing finalists receiving £15,000 each. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is an open air museum, looking at life in the north east of England in the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s, while Chapter is a Welsh arts centre made up of a gallery, artist studios, theatres, cinemas, a cafe bar, and community garden. Compton Verney is an art gallery with six installations, Golden Thread Gallery is a Northern Irish contemporary art gallery and Perth Museum looks at 10,000 years of Scottish and world history through a local lens. READ MORE: Perth Museum celebrates first birthday after year of success The Scottish city that's curiously underrated and overlooked Film costumes and props to feature in new Macbeth exhibition Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, who will chair the judging panel, said: 'This year's finalists are inspiring examples of museums at their best – deeply connected to their local communities, responsive to the world around them, and alive with energy and ideas. 'Each one offers a distinctive experience, showing the endless creativity and care that goes into making museums inspiring and exciting spaces for everyone. 'Art Fund is proud to celebrate their work and support their ambition through Art Fund Museum of the Year. 'We hope people across the UK will be inspired to visit these remarkable places and museums in their local area to discover the powerful role they can play in our lives.' The award aims to recognise inspiring projects and activity from autumn 2023 through to winter 2024, looking at the overall achievements of the organisation, impactful projects, staff and volunteers, and community engagement. The prize is funded by Art Fund members who buy a National Art Pass.
