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Killhope Is Guardian's Family Friendly Museum Of The Year
By David Prudames
06/02/2004
Photo: (left to right) Dea Birkett and Andy Pietrasik of The Guardian congratulate Jackie Hamer and Ian Forbes from Killhope. © The Guardian/ Frank Baron.
Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum in County Durham has been named as the winner of the first Guardian Family Friendly Museum award.
Launched as part of the newspaper’s Kids in Museums campaign in September last year, the competition was aimed at finding the best family friendly days out in the UK’s museums and galleries.
As well as a plaque to commemorate their achievement, Killhope were given a £15,000 interactive exhibit and a digital camera.
Developed specially for the prize by Redman Design, the computer exhibit is called What are we doing here? and encourages children to investigate museum collections, to ask questions and look for clues.
The award was presented to Ian Forbes, Manager at Killhope, who told the 24 Hour Museum how shocked he was that his institution had been declared the winner.
"Apart from being totally astonished, I wasn’t expecting it at all," he said.
Photo: the Kids in Museums campaign poster and logo was designed by cartoonist Quentin Blake. Courtesy The Guardian.
But in accepting the award, Ian was quick to praise his colleagues: "This success is entirely due to the staff at Killhope," he said."It’s their award."
"We’ve always tried to make sure the visitors are more important than the objects we are showing them. Our policy is always that the staff are focused on visitors having a good time and learning something incidentally on the way."
As far as being family friendly goes, Forbes added: "We really like the feeling that we are sending children away inspired."
After receiving over 300 nominations from members of the public and museum professionals, a panel of judges including environmentalist David Bellamy and Mark Taylor of the Museums Association produced a shortlist of five.
Image: Shows a photograph of a child putting on a miner's helmet and lamp.
Photo: Killhope is the only lead mine in the North-east open to the public and explores the life of North Pennine lead mining families.
Joining Killhope were Falmouth Art Gallery, the Museum of Farnham, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter and the V&A.
Each was 'road-tested' before Christmas by family groups armed with a point system against which the institutions were measured.
"The scores were incredibly close," explained Dea Birkett, Guardian writer and competition judge. "All the museums were fabulous."
It was Birkett who launched The Guardian’s Kids in Museums campaign after she was asked to leave the Royal Academy of Art’s Aztec exhibition last year, because of her child’s behaviour.
"What started as a complaint, has become a celebration" she said before adding "the shortlist is the tip of a very wonderful iceberg of innovation."
Photo: the runners-up were each given a certificate and a copy of Anthony Browne's The Shape Game. Claire Fuller (left) and Jo Lumber of Falmouth Art Gallery. Photo: Anra Kennedy. © 24 Hour Museum.
While Killhope came out as the overall winner, being included on the shortlist of awards such as this one prove prizes in themselves for museums.
Ann Jones, Curator at the Museum of Farnham said: "It has meant a terrific amount to us because we are a local authority museum and it has been a recognition of our value to the community and it’s justifying our existence."
Her words were echoed by Claire Fuller, Education Officer at Falmouth Art Gallery, whose institution is also funded by a local authority.
"Getting the nomination and becoming a finalist," she explained, "showed the council that giving us money was actually worthwhile."
Killhope The North of England Lead Mining Museum
Killhope The North of England Lead Mining Museum, Near Cowshill, Upper Weardale, Co Durham, DL13 1AR, Durham, England
Open: 1 April - 31October
Daily 10.30-17.00
Last entry 16.30
Groups by appt November & March
Closed: open to pre booked parties Nov - Mar
Falmouth Art Gallery
Falmouth Art Gallery, Municipal Buildings, The Moor, Falmouth, TR11 2RT, Cornwall, England
Open: Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm
Closed: Closed Sundays
Museum of Farnham
38 West Street, Farnham, GU9 7DX, Surrey, England
Open: Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00
Closed: Christmas and New Year
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RX, Devon, England
Open: N.B. Main Museum building currently closed for refurbishment, re-opens Spring 2010
However, you can visit RAMM in the Library, Exeter Museum's city centre home while the Queen Street building is being redeveloped.
Based next door to Exeter Central Library in Castle Street, Exeter, RAMM in the library has a range of objects on display and there are also hands-on gallery activities. RAMM in the Library is an ideal place for family visits.
RAMM in the Library is Open Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Admission Free.
Please see our listings on 24 Hour Museum website or the Museum's own website for the wide programme of exhibitions, events and activities taking place around Exeter and Devon whilst the main Museum building is closed.
You can also visit St Nicholas Priory - A Tudor Home, at the Mint, off Fore St Exeter. In part of what was once a medieval priory this splendid building was later lived in by the wealthy Hurst family. It is now presented as their Elizabethan town house with replica furniture, sumptuous fabrics and rich colours. Come and feel at home in this historic family home. Open on Saturdays and on weekdays during school holidays 10.00 - 17.00. Admission £2 for adults (£1.50 concessions), children free. All children aged under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. www.exeter.gov.uk/priory
Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2RL, England
Open: Daily 1000-1745
Fri 1000-2200
Closed: 24-26 December
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