The Night in the Garden event at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has been named as one of the best museum projects in the UK at the Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence.
The project was a magical combination of light and nature – the first outdoor light experience of its kind to be organised by the Garden – was open to visitors between 30 October and 23 November. It was named as the winner in the Trading and Enterprise category at the Awards, presented by comedian and TV personality Marcus Brigstocke yesterday at the Historic State Rooms of 8 Northumberland Avenue in central London.
Accepting the award, RBGE Director of Enterprise Heather Jackson said: “It is a particular honour to be recognised by our peers. Now, our ambition is to build on the success of that inaugural event and create an evolving annual experience that will showcase the Garden and inspire visitors to support the wider research and conservation work of the organisation.”
The Awards are judged by a panel of senior sector professionals including Bernard Donoghue (Director, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), Diane Lees (Director General, Imperial War Museums), Matthew Tanner (Chief Executive of ss Great Britain), Sam Mullins (Director of the London Transport Museum), Maggie Appleton (Chief Executive, RAF Museum), Diana Owen (Director, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust) and Stephen Duncan (Director of Commercial and Tourism, Historic Scotland).
The judges commented: “This organisation successfully managed to maximise the opportunity to generate additional income during a period which was traditionally quiet, managing to attract crowds to the great outdoors during winter, paving the way for a future programme of revenue-generating events.”
Now celebrating its thirteenth year, the annual Awards, created by The Museums + Heritage Show, recognise the leading lights of the heritage sector and celebrate excellence and innovation at museums, galleries and visitor attractions across the UK and Europe.
Hundreds of sector professionals joined together at the ceremony – the ‘Oscars’ of the museums and heritage industry – to celebrate the groundbreaking achievements and spectacular projects taking place in cultural attractions over the past 12 months.
Among the night’s big winners were London’s Imperial War Museum’s WW1 galleries that walked away with the top honour of the ‘Best Permanent Exhibition’ accolade. While Michael Day, Chief Executive of the Historic Royal Palaces received the award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the heritage sector.
Other 2015 winners were Kent Life Wildlife Farm Park for Outstanding Customer Service; The Black Country Museum for Project on a Limited Budget and Renfrewshire District Council took the award for the best restoration project for its work to restore the Grand Fountain in Paisley.
The winner of the International Award was Tinker Imagineers from Rotterdam for the DOMunder archaeological visitor experience, while the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh received the Winstan Bond Trophy for Trading and Enterprise.
Other winners included The National Trust for Scotland in Partnership with Historic Scotland & Designers Bright White Ltd which walked away with the Innovations award; Oxford University Museum of Natural History took the top Marketing award and London’s Historic Royal Palace’ ground-breaking installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red was named as the best Temporary or Touring exhibition.
The winners and highly commended entries (listed below) are a reflection of the industry’s resilience. Each museum, cultural and heritage visitor attraction is recognised for its excellence – whether for an innovative and groundbreaking exhibition or for making a considerable achievement on the smallest of budgets.
2015 WINNERS & HIGHLY COMMENDED
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL
Michael Day, Chief Executive, Historic Royal Palaces
CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Sponsored by BDRC Continental
Kent Life Heritage Farm Park: More than a Guest, More than a Vision, More than a Job
Highly Commended: The Lightbox: The Lightbox Front of House Team
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Sponsored by Martello Media
TINKER imagineers: DOMunder: archaeological visitor experience
Highly Commended: Natura Artis Magistra, Micropia
PROJECT ON A LIMITED BUDGET
Sponsored by Sweett
Black Country Museum: WW1 Greengrocers
Highly Commended: Woodhorn Museum: Stand up for Woodhorn: Making a Case for Comedy in Museums
RESTORATION OR CONSERVATION
Sponsored by FWA Group
· Renfrewshire Council: The Grand Fountain Restoration, Paisley
Highly Commended: Coventry Transport Museum: 1916 Maudslay Subsidy Chassis
WINSTAN BOND TROPHY FOR TRADING & ENTERPRISE
Supported by Association of Independent Museums
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Botanic Lights: Night in the Garden
INNOVATIONS AWARD
The National Trust for Scotland in Partnership with Historic Scotland & Designers Bright White Ltd: The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre
High;y Commended: Mather & Co on behalf of Manchester City Council: Archives +
MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Sponsored by Volunteer Makers
Oxford University: Museum of Natural History Goes To Town
Highly Cemmended: Imperial War Museums: First World War Galleries
PERMANENT EXHIBITION
Sponsored by Martello Media
Imperial War Museums London and Casson Mann: First World War Galleries
Highly Commended: The National Trust for Scotland in Partnership with Historic Scotland & Designers Bright White Ltd: The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE
Sponsored by Arts Award
Imperial War Museums: Transforming Imperial War Museums London Learning Projects – JOINT WINNER
· Shakespeare Birthplace Trust: Shakespeare Week – JOINT WINNER
TEMPORARY OR TOURING EXHIBITION
Historic Royal Palaces: Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red
Highly Commended: The Royal Air Force Museum: Pilots of the Caribbean
CULTURE PROS PICK
In partnership with The Guardian Culture Professionals Network
People’s History Museum in Manchester
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