Latest news with #ManchesterMuseum
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Volunteers sought to help survey glow worms in Cumbria
Volunteers are being sought to help survey for glow worms at a country estate. They will spend 10 weeks looking for the insects, which are beetles that use bioluminescence to attract mates, across the Lowther Estate near Penrith, Cumbria. The volunteers will be trained by experts from Manchester Museum to try and find glow worms, which are believed to be declining in insects are "voracious" predators of snail and slug populations, Lowther Conservation ecologist Elizabeth Ogilvie said. "[They help] maintain balance in our landscapes," she said. "They also contribute to soil health by cycling nutrients back into the ecosystem."Ms Ogilvie said their glowing signals which are vital for mating are often drowned out by artificial lights and their numbers appear to be declining across the country. The survey, which will be conducted in the evenings, will help scientists determine whether glow worms are present on the estate, assistant curator from Manchester Museum, part of The University of Manchester, Bethany Dean may provide an opportunity for long term monitoring on the site, she Ogilvie said no experience was necessary to volunteer – simply an "eagerness to help on summer evenings". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Manchester Museum named European Museum of the Year
It contains Egyptian mummies and is the only place outside Panama where tiny variable harlequin toads can be found. And now, the 138-year-old Manchester Museum has been named European Museum of the Year. The institution won one of the most prestigious museum prizes in the world with judges praising its approach to addressing its complex past and its extensive work with communities. It is the first university museum to win the award, created in 1977, and the first British museum since the Design Museum in London won in 2018. The museum's director, Esme Ward, said it was a thrill to win, particularly after what had been a 'truly grim' 30-hour trip to just get to the awards, this year held in the north-east Polish city of Białystok. Ward was there with two colleagues and said they were hopeful of perhaps winning the 'belonging and inclusion' award. When they did not get that they were feeling flat. 'I'll be really frank, we genuinely didn't think the main award was ours.' Manchester was named winner from a shortlist of 42 museums. Ward added: 'It's not often I'm lost for words, but we were gobsmacked and it was amazing. I probably gave the worst speech of my life, but who cares?' The prize is given to a museum which represents the best in innovation and excellence. Manchester Museum has been at the frontline of debates about repatriation, curation, the stories modern museums should tell and what use museums can be to society more widely. After a £15m revamp, it reopened in 2023 with a new south Asia gallery designed and co-curated with 30 people from Manchester's south Asian diaspora communities. The museum, Ward said, is the headquarters for Pinc College, a specialist creative college for neurodivergent young people, and the building's top floor is an environmental action and social justice hub. Ward said the museum did not shy away from its past. 'Manchester Museum was born of incredible civic spirit, but it was also born of empire and of racism and we have to grapple with the legacy of that. We want to do that in a way that recognises the harm, but also encourages healing.' In September 2023 the museum returned 174 objects to an Indigenous Australian community, the Anindilyakwa people, in a landmark example of cultural repatriation. Ward said museums had the power to 'to bring generations and communities together' and to help people 'hopefully feel less lonely but certainly feel more connected and have a kind of bigger view of the world'. In the current climate, there will be people who label Manchester Museum's new approach as 'woke'. 'Does that bother me? No,' said Ward. 'Because frankly, I don't tell anybody what to think. I can't bear it when people tell me what to think. That's not what we do. We want to provide multiple perspectives to equip people to navigate this crazy world we're in, to understand it, to build empathy for other people and the natural world. 'We think one of the most powerful ways of doing that is to expand the stories we tell. You know, the stories of the collectors, the institutions, we've been telling those 100 years. It's time for some new ones.' The prize is a small Henry Moore mother and child sculpture and comes with no money, but lots of prestige that could help unlock future funding. 'Tomorrow we're going to have as many people here as humanly possible to unveil the award and then we'll plan a party,' said Ward. 'Obviously.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Manchester Museum named European Museum Of The Year
Manchester Museum has won the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA), hailed by judges for "balancing globally-significant academic research with community engagement and social responsibility". The museum, part of the University of Manchester, is the first university museum to receive the accolade, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards of its kind in the world. It topped a shortlist of 41 museums, including the world-renowned Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Judges praised how the museum, on Oxford Road, "reimagined its mission, acknowledging and addressing its complex history by redefining the role of its collections and public programmes". The museum - which is free to visit - was also praised for "thoughtful, informed, and impactful community engagement, creating a truly inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of identity or background, can see themselves reflected and represented". Esme Ward, director of the Manchester Museum, accepted the award at a ceremony at the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białistok, Poland - winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize last year. "Museums have the power to be empathy machines - bringing generations and communities together to build understanding, while confronting the past with honesty and transparency," said Ms Ward. "More than ever before, we need museums that are values-led, imaginative and confident about what they stand for." Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises either new museums or established museums which have undertaken a programme of modernisation. An average of around 45 museums apply each year, from across the 46 member countries. Two main awards, the EMYA and the Council of Europe Museum Prize, have been awarded continuously since 1977. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Museum's £15m revamp puts spotlight on South Asia Manchester Museum
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Impactful' Manchester Museum named European Museum Of The Year
Manchester Museum has won the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA), hailed by judges for "balancing globally-significant academic research with community engagement and social responsibility".The museum, part of the University of Manchester, is the first university museum to receive the accolade, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards of its kind in the topped a shortlist of 41 museums, including the world-renowned Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Guggenheim in praised how the museum, on Oxford Road, "reimagined its mission, acknowledging and addressing its complex history by redefining the role of its collections and public programmes". The museum - which is free to visit - was also praised for "thoughtful, informed, and impactful community engagement, creating a truly inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of identity or background, can see themselves reflected and represented".Esme Ward, director of the Manchester Museum, accepted the award at a ceremony at the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białistok, Poland - winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize last year."Museums have the power to be empathy machines - bringing generations and communities together to build understanding, while confronting the past with honesty and transparency," said Ms Ward."More than ever before, we need museums that are values-led, imaginative and confident about what they stand for."Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises either new museums or established museums which have undertaken a programme of modernisation. An average of around 45 museums apply each year, from across the 46 member main awards, the EMYA and the Council of Europe Museum Prize, have been awarded continuously since 1977. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Euronews
26-05-2025
- General
- Euronews
Watch: The Kenyan network saving seeds for future generations
Through training and sustainable farming practices, Seed Savers Network reduces the dependency on commercial monocultures by conserving and exchanging traditional seeds with over 85,000 farmers, ensuring food security for generations to come. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ The Manchester Museum has collected this year's top honour at the European Museum of the Year Awards, which were presented on the last day of the EMYA2025 Conference in Poland at the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białystok. On a self-proclaimed mission to become the 'most inclusive, imaginative, and caring, museum you'll ever see,' the Manchester Museum was awarded the prize in a year focused on 'Remembrance and Solidarity for Collective Action'. Part of the University of Manchester, this natural history museum was established in 1867 and boasts a collection of about 4.5 million items hailing from every continent. These include archaeological and anthropological artefacts, as well as a vivarium featuring live amphibians. The last exhibit in particular is the only place outside of Panama where visitors can see the critically endangered harlequin toad, which is known by researchers and enthusiasts alike for its striking colors. The European Museum of the Year Award was presented by Amina Krvavac, Chair of the EMYA Jury. In a year focused on solidarity and collective action, the Manchester Museum was recognised specifically for 'enhancing accessibility' and creating 'new spaces to foster deeper community connections and promote intercultural dialogue,' according to a statement from the awards. The museum was also specifically acknowledged for the ways in which it grappled with its colonial past. As museums around the world, including many in the UK, have grappled with the ways in which it has acquired and presented archaeological artefacts, the Manchester Museum, also born of Empire, has, according to the Awards committee 'reimagined its mission' by 'acknowledging and addressing its complex history by redefining the role of its collections and public programmes.' But what do these changes look like in practice? For one, the museum has placed heavy emphasis on highlighting the perspectives of indigenous peoples, and allowing people from those communities to curate and tell their own stories. Such is the case for 'Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country' an exhibition currently on display, which explores the culture and traditions of the Anindilyakwa People or Warnumamalya (true people), the Traditional Owners of the Groote archipelago off the north coast of Australia. This exhibit in particular was designed by and written with Anindilyakwa artists and Elders. In addition to this, in 2023, 174 cultural heritage items were returned by the Manchester Museum to their country, demonstrating an active desire on the part of the museum to right historical wrongs. The choice of venue for the awards was also carefully considered. Last year, the Sybir Memorial Museum won the Council of Europe Museum prize for its contributions to upholding human rights and democratic citizenship. The museum explores the stories of Poles deported to the USSR during the Second World War, and was praised for its ability to bring history to life 'through workshops, events, media, publications, and new formats.' This year's Council of Europe Museum Prize went to the Euskararen Etxea, the House of the Basque Language in Bilbao, Spain. This space, described by the awards committee as 'a unique cultural space dedicated to the Basque language, its history, and the stories of resilience and identity associated with it,' was awarded for its exploration of 'the deep emotions, challenges, and resistance tied to the Basque culture.' While this museum focuses on the history of the minority language used primarily in Spain, it offers exhibits in English, French, Spanish, as well as Basque, making it accessible to a wider variety of visitors. The museum recognised for community engagement was the Alvor Lifeguard Interpretative Centre (CISA) in Portimão, Portugal. Much like the Manchester Museum, CISA places heavy emphasis on people-forward exhibitions, with stories being told by the people they are about. CISA itself focuses on preserving traditional artisanal fishing practices and labour traditions, with many contributions coming from local residents. The Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion and Belonging, which celebrates a 'friendly atmosphere of inclusion', went to the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, which was recognized for the ways in which it reaches out to young people. The museum boasts an average of 500 young visitors a day, according to the awards committee. Awarded for environmental sustainability was MUZOO, a contemporary Swiss space which invites locals to care for animals to foster conversations about biodiversity. It combines exhibits with interactive experiences that both create environmental dialogue and leave a lasting impression once the visitors leave. Nini Sanadiradze, the former General Director of The Union of Tbilisi Museums, was also honored as an individual for her 'courageous, at times controversial, museum practices that challenge and expand common perceptions of the role and responsibilities of museums in society.' She was also recognized with a medal of honor by the former Georgian president, Salome Zourabichvili, for her 'exceptional dedication to safeguarding and conserving Georgian cultural and historical heritage.' Next year's awards will be held at the Euskararen Etxea in Bilbao.
