Latest news with #RhiannonHiles
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beamish Museum win sparks joy and happy memories
Congratulations have flooded in to an open-air attraction which has been named museum of the the Living Museum of the North, scooped the £120,000 prize money on its 55th anniversary of its attraction, near Stanley in County Durham, brings to life the history of the region from the 1820s to the 1950s. Fans and regular visitors have been taking to social media to offer congratulations and share memories. Receiving the award, Beamish chief executive Rhiannon Hiles said: "This is just perfect to get us on the map and really, really showcase what we do up in the North East of England." She described the win as absolutely amazing, and praised "our brilliant team".Staff and volunteers had gathered in the 1950s cinema to watch the award ceremony and broke into loud cheers at the they spoke of how thrilled, amazed and overjoyed they described it as a win for the whole of the North East, which "shows what the region is worth". Many others echoed the view that it was a broader win for the Luke Akehurst, whose North Durham constituency covers Beamish, posted on social media: "Congratulations Beamish - the Pride of North Durham."Chris Loughran, chair of Beamish, said: "We're proud to be a place, a space and an anchor for all. "Beamish is the North East's leading visitor attraction but it also is the beating heart of our region's identity and values." The Art Fund Prize was launched in 2008, becoming Museum of the Year in 2013. All of the five finalists this year, which included Chapter in Cardiff and Compton Verney in Warwickshire, were based outside of London. Among the congratulations were people reminiscing, with some taking to social media to talk about repeat visits over the many cases it brought back memories of their grandparents' former colliery homes, with leaded ranges and tin remembered shopping at some of the buildings in their original sites - such as the Co-op in Annfield Plain - before they were dismantled and reconstructed at agreed that it was a well-deserved win. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North wins Museum Of The Year award
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North has won the Art Fund Museum Of The Year prize for 2025. The open-air museum, in Country Durham, bring north-east England's Georgian, Edwardian and 1940s and 1950s history to life through immersive exhibits. The £120,000 prize was presented to Rhiannon Hiles, chief executive of Beamish, by comedian and prize judge Phil Wang, at a ceremony held at the Museum Of Liverpool. Wang, 35, said: 'Beamish is a worthy winner of this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Our visit was one of the most fun days I've had in years. 'An unbelievable level of commitment from staff, and a jaw-dropping amount of detail ran through everything. They had to drag me kicking and screaming out of there!' 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 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.' In the past year Beamish has completed its Remaking Beamish project, which has seen the recreation of a 1950s town and 1950s farm. In 2024 they opened a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical shop, as well as a Georgian tavern. The museum, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, was in a list of finalists that comprised Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast and Perth Museum in Perth and Kinross. Art Fund annually shortlists five outstanding museums for the prize and the 2025 edition recognises activities that took place from autumn 2023 to winter 2024. The judges were tasked with identifying impactful projects and looking at the overall achievements of the organisations.
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North wins Museum Of The Year award
The £120,000 prize was presented to Rhiannon Hiles, chief executive of Beamish, by comedian and prize judge Phil Wang, at a ceremony held at the Museum Of Liverpool. Beamish offers immersive exhibits (David Levene/Art Fund/PA) Wang, 35, said: 'Beamish is a worthy winner of this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Our visit was one of the most fun days I've had in years. 'An unbelievable level of commitment from staff, and a jaw-dropping amount of detail ran through everything. They had to drag me kicking and screaming out of there!' 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 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.' In the past year Beamish has completed its Remaking Beamish project, which has seen the recreation of a 1950s town and 1950s farm. Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North, is an open-air museum in County Durham (David Levene/Art Fund/PA) In 2024 they opened a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical shop, as well as a Georgian tavern. The museum, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, was in a list of finalists that comprised Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast and Perth Museum in Perth and Kinross. Art Fund annually shortlists five outstanding museums for the prize and the 2025 edition recognises activities that took place from autumn 2023 to winter 2024. The judges were tasked with identifying impactful projects and looking at the overall achievements of the organisations.
Western Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North wins Museum Of The Year award
The open-air museum, in Country Durham, bring north-east England's Georgian, Edwardian and 1940s and 1950s history to life through immersive exhibits. The £120,000 prize was presented to Rhiannon Hiles, chief executive of Beamish, by comedian and prize judge Phil Wang, at a ceremony held at the Museum Of Liverpool. Beamish offers immersive exhibits (David Levene/Art Fund/PA) Wang, 35, said: 'Beamish is a worthy winner of this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Our visit was one of the most fun days I've had in years. 'An unbelievable level of commitment from staff, and a jaw-dropping amount of detail ran through everything. They had to drag me kicking and screaming out of there!' 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 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.' In the past year Beamish has completed its Remaking Beamish project, which has seen the recreation of a 1950s town and 1950s farm. Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North, is an open-air museum in County Durham (David Levene/Art Fund/PA) In 2024 they opened a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical shop, as well as a Georgian tavern. The museum, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, was in a list of finalists that comprised Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast and Perth Museum in Perth and Kinross. Art Fund annually shortlists five outstanding museums for the prize and the 2025 edition recognises activities that took place from autumn 2023 to winter 2024. The judges were tasked with identifying impactful projects and looking at the overall achievements of the organisations.
Rhyl Journal
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North wins Museum Of The Year award
The open-air museum, in Country Durham, bring north-east England's Georgian, Edwardian and 1940s and 1950s history to life through immersive exhibits. The £120,000 prize was presented to Rhiannon Hiles, chief executive of Beamish, by comedian and prize judge Phil Wang, at a ceremony held at the Museum Of Liverpool. Wang, 35, said: 'Beamish is a worthy winner of this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Our visit was one of the most fun days I've had in years. 'An unbelievable level of commitment from staff, and a jaw-dropping amount of detail ran through everything. They had to drag me kicking and screaming out of there!' 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 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.' In the past year Beamish has completed its Remaking Beamish project, which has seen the recreation of a 1950s town and 1950s farm. In 2024 they opened a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical shop, as well as a Georgian tavern. The museum, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, was in a list of finalists that comprised Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast and Perth Museum in Perth and Kinross. Art Fund annually shortlists five outstanding museums for the prize and the 2025 edition recognises activities that took place from autumn 2023 to winter 2024. The judges were tasked with identifying impactful projects and looking at the overall achievements of the organisations.
