News

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has achieved official recognition as one of the top tourist destinations in the region.

It has earned the prestigious gold standard accreditation from VisitEngland, making it one of only eight tourist establishments in the South West to attain this prestigious status.

Claire Dixon, Executive Director said “This award is a fantastic recognition of the world-class displays that have been created here at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, as well as the amazing work that our team do, to ensure all visitors have an exceptional experience. We are still struggling to achieve the level of visitor numbers that we need, after the impact of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and other political and economic challenges. Awards like this are important, in raising our profile and encouraging new audiences to visit and we are delighted to receive this from VisitEngland.”

VisitEngland, the national authority responsible for evaluating, acknowledging, and celebrating excellence in tourism and hospitality throughout England, bestowed this honour.

In total, ninety-one Gold Accolades were presented to various venues nationwide, acknowledging the exceptional visitor experiences available in England in 2023.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “These accolades are a testament to the outstanding experiences and customer service that attractions in England give visitors. They also recognise different aspects of the visitor experience with attractions that really go the extra mile, whether it’s offering exceptional food and drink or magical storytelling. The attractions honoured today go out of their way to make visits memorable, creating reasons for people to travel to new locations, also boosting local economies across England.”

The next exhibition ‘Elisabeth Frink: A View From Within’ will open on Saturday 2 December and showcase the exceptional art collections within the Museum & Art Gallery, as well as providing access to objects that have never been on display before. Alongside the exhibition, we are excited to host Frink’s ‘Small Warrior’, a sculpture that was featured in a recent episode of the BBC’s Fake or Fortune TV series.