The British Museum picked up an award for its First Emperor exhibition. © Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang, Lintong, Shaanxi Province, China. Photograph British Museum

The winners of the 2008 Museums and Heritage Awards, which recognise and celebrate best practice within museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions, were announced at a ceremony in London on May 7 2008.

Created by The Museums and Heritage Show, the awards attracted hundreds of entries spanning the entire industry, with both operators and suppliers being recognised.

Among them were The British Museum for its renowned exhibition The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army and The National Trust for Scotland for its new hand held technology used at Culloden Battlefield.

London Transport Museum also picked up an award for their new Permanent Galleries whilst National Museums Liverpool were recognised for Make the Link, Break the Chain, an anti-slavery project linking schools along the slave triangle.

TV presenter and actor Tony Robinson was presented with an ‘Overall Contribution by an Individual’ award – for his championing of archaeology through his long running TV series Time Team.

A GPS-triggered electronic guide providing character accounts, archaeological evidence, and real-life sound effects at Culloden Battlefield.

“We have once again been overwhelmed by both the number and quality of entries we have received for this year’s Awards for Excellence,” said Anna Preedy, Director of the Museums and Heritage Show and founder of the awards.

“Not only do the Awards provide a much needed platform to celebrate the incredible achievements of our cultural attractions, they also provide us all with an opportunity to share in the wealth of knowledge and experience that exists within our industry. We are looking forward to another fantastic Awards in 2009.”

The awards were judged by a panel of industry professionals, including: Bernard Donoghue, Head of Government and Public Affairs at VisitBritain; Diane Lees, Director of V&A Museum of Childhood; Matthew Tanner MBE, Director of ss Great Britain and Phil Reed, Director of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms.

The closing date for entries for next year’s awards is March 22 2009. The 2009 Museums and Heritage Show takes place at Earls Court on 13 and 14 May 2009.

See www.museumsandheritage.com for more details.

Permanent exhibition winner, London Transport Museum. © London Transport Museum

The winners in full:

Restoration/Conservation: Stonewest Ltd and Cowdray & Midhurst Heritage
International: National Museums Liverpool, Make the Link, Break the Chain
Classic: Manx National Heritage, The Story of Mann
Alternative Revenue: Museum of East Anglian Life, Social Enterprise
Use of Technology: National Trust for Scotland, Culloden Battlefield Guide
Project on a Limited Budget: The National Trust, Captain Turnbull's Obsession
Educational Initiative: Museum of London
Temporary or Touring Exhibition: British Museum, The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army
Permanent Exhibition: London Transport Museum, London Transport Museum - New Permanent Galleries
Marketing Campaign: National Galleries of Scotland, Andy Warhol
Museums and Heritage Reader’s Award: V&A Museum of Childhood
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual: Tony Robinson