News
Dorset Museum shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award
July 6, 2021
It’s been announced that Dorset Museum has been shortlisted for a Kids in Museums Family Friendly Award, 2021.
The charity ‘Kids in Museums’ has run a prestigious annual award for the past 15 years, recognising the most family-friendly heritage sites in the UK. It is the only museum award to be judged by families.
From April to June, families across the UK voted for their favourite heritage attraction on the Kids in Museums website. A panel of Museum experts then whittled down hundreds of nominations to a shortlist of 20 heritage attractions with Dorset Museum shortlisted alongside 4 other small Museums from across the country in the Best Small Museum category.
Dorset Museum Executive Director, Dr Jon Murden Said:
“Making families welcome and giving them an excellent experience has been at the heart of the project to reimagine Dorset Museum. Our team has been working in consultation with our local community to bring an exciting and engaging programme of activities for families to enjoy. Our galleries have also been designed with a range of needs in mind offering tactile and interactive displays that engage, inspire, and bring our collection to life.
We’re so proud to be shortlisted in the Kids in Museum Best Small Museum category so soon after opening our doors.”
Dorset Museum tells the story of 250 million years of the county’s past; from its origins as shown in the rocks and fossils of Mary Anning’s Jurassic Coast, through tales of Roman and Viking invaders, to the Wessex of Thomas Hardy’s imagination.
Stories are presented across 4 new permanent and accessible galleries, together with a programme of special exhibitions and a range of activities and events for families.
Enabling families to enjoy the Museum has been at the heart of the recent transformation of the building, galleries, and engagement programme. Family trails, sensory backpacks, a Calm Space, buggy park, and Changing Places toilets help to ensure a family visit is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
The Museum will now be visited by undercover family judges who will assess the Museums against the Kids in Museums Manifesto. Their experiences will decide a winner for each award category and an overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2021. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.
Follow the Family Friendly Museum Award on Twitter by following @kidsinmuseums and #FamilyFriendly-Museum.
The Family Friendly Museum Award has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England
About Kids in Museums
We are a charity dedicated to making museums open and welcoming to all children, young people, and families. We support and champion family-friendly organisations through wide-ranging initiatives, including the Family Friendly Museum Award and Takeover Day. We invite heritage organisations to sign up to our Manifesto, which sets out simple guidelines for making museums easy to reach for all ages.
Find out more at: www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk
About the Family Friendly Museum Award
Kids in Museums began the Family Friendly Museum Award in 2004 and the prize is now in its 15th year. The award champions museums that place families’ voices at the heart of their organisations.
Previous winners of the Family Friendly Museum Award include the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum (2019), Leeds City Museum (2018), the People’s History Museum in Manchester (2017), and York Art Gallery (2016).
In 2020, Kids in Museums held the Family Friendly Museum Award From Home, a special one-off award celebrating how museums and heritage sites supported families through the lockdown.
What's on
2 December 2023 - 21 April 2024
Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within
Experience the inner world of famous sculptor Dame Elisabeth Frink (1930-1993) in a major new exhibition exploring her artistic and personal life in Dorset. Showcasing over 80 sculptures, drawings and prints, this exhibition will explore her artistic process, personal life, and the influences that shaped her work.
Find out more2 December 2023 - 21 April 2024
Awakened by Frink
Awakened by Frink is a community exhibition of artwork by members of the Deaf community created during a series of workshops at Dorset Museum and Art Gallery.
Find out more3 February - 30 May 2024
John Brown in Dorchester: Rebuilding a Life after slavery
Discover the little-known story of John Brown, in this new showcase display outside the Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more24 April 2024, 7:30pm
Yuanfan Yang, Pianist
Pianist and composer Yuanfan Yang, born in Edinburgh, is a First-Class Graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music in London. He has won numerous prizes at international piano competitions and has performed with prestigious orchestras worldwide. Yuanfan is also an accomplished composer, winning awards for his compositions. His debut album "Watercolour" received critical acclaim.
Find out more2 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more16 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more16 May 2024, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Paul Nash in Dorset | Professor Paul Gough
This richly illustrated lecture explores over 80 Paul Nash artworks created from the mid-1930s until his death in 1946. They range from ancient places such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to the limestone promontories and fossilised forests on the Purbeck coast.
Find out more22 May 2024, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Collections Discovery Centre Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more22 May 2024, 7:30pm