press release
22.07.10
County museums are award winners
Northamptonshire Museums and heritage sites were announced as award winners at the Renaissance Heritage Awards award ceremony held at Kelmarsh Hall on 22 July 2010.
The ceremony celebrated the work of museums and heritage collections throughout the county, with Desborough Heritage Centre winning Museum of the Year.
The Awards recognise excellence in museums and heritage sites across the county, they are in their fourth year and this year are supported by Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited as well as Renaissance East Midlands.
The 2010 winners are:
Best Event 2010
Joint Winners:
The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne for The Canal Village at War
and Rushden Historical Transport Society for 50th Anniversary of last timetabled train from Rushden Station
Best Exhibition 2010
Winner: Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust for Ironstone Quarrying Before Mechanisation
Inspiration Award for Best Special Project 2010
Joint Winners:
The Tithe Barn Museum/ Prebendal Manor for Exploring Archaeology through the Senses
and Sulgrave Manor for Washington Garden
Work with Children and Young People 2010
Winner: Naseby Battlefield for The Sound of Naseby Battlefield
Collections Care and Development 2010
Winner: The Bromham Parochial Library at Canons Ashby
Museum of the Year 2010
Winner: Desborough Heritage Centre
Judges Special Award 2010
Winner: Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
People’s Choice Award 2010
Winner: The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne
Kate Dent, Head of Tourism at Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd, said “What a fantastic climax to what has been such an exciting project for all of us, last night’s awards presentations really were the icing on the cake! We extend our huge congratulations to all the finalists and a special well done to the winners. All the museums involved have impressed us with the quality of service to visitors, what a perfect excuse for people to get out and about in Northamptonshire and experience the museums for themselves!”
Jane Seddon, Northamptonshire Museum Development Officer and the co-ordinator for the Awards, said: “Choosing one winner from the high quality of entrants has been a really difficult task for the judges this year. The awards ceremony celebrates the work of all our county’s museums and heritage collections and reminds us how lucky we are to have access to such diverse and such high quality venues and exhibitions, providing great days out for all the family in Northamptonshire”.
ENDS
The Northamptonshire Renaissance Heritage Awards ceremony is on Thursday July 22 at 6pm.
Photo opportunity of the winners: 11pm
For more information contact:
Jane Seddon on 07825 061202 janeseddon@northampton.gov.uk or
Catherine Hallsworth on 0116 252 7392 catherine.hallsworth@leicester.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
The Northamptonshire Renaissance Heritage Awards are part of the East Midlands Renaissance Heritage Awards and similar awards are happening in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire and Rutland.
Renaissance is a £150 million programme to transform England’s regional museums. For the first time, investment from central government is helping regional museums across the country to raise their standards and deliver real results in support of education, learning, community development and economic regeneration. Renaissance is helping museums to meet people’s changing needs – and to change people’s lives.
Holland Alexander. Be Inspired. Events, Marketing & PR Agency. London & Leicester