Family Friendly Museum Award shortlist revealed as shout goes out for family judges

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Six museums to fight it out for Family Friendly Museum Award as call extends to families to judge competition

A visit down a coal mine, the history of the British domestic interior and the industrial past of Wales are among the six shortlisted museum experiences competing for the coveted accolade of the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award 2015.

Picked from a 20-strong longlist by an expert panel of judges, the award is organised by campaigning charity Kids in Museums, whose family friendly Manifesto helps museums improve and promote their family visiting credentials.

And with more museums signing up to the manifesto each year, the competition to win the prize is getting hotter, as judge, KIM trustee and Culture24 Head of Programmes and Partnerships Anra Kennedy explains:

“Shortlisting for the Award gets harder every year because the family offer from many, many museums across the UK is getting stronger and stronger,” she says of this year’s eclectic shortlist, which she describes as a mix of small, volunteer-run and larger venues, including urban, rural and industrial heritage sites and social history and arts collections.

"They prove it’s possible to be family-friendly whatever the collections and venues you’re working with.”

The shortlisted museums will now be 'road-tested' anonymously by families whose views and reports will decide the winner.

“Families are at the heart of everything Kids in Museums does and the annual Family Friendly Museum Award illustrates this beautifully,” adds Anra. “We’re looking for families to make undercover visits to one of our six shortlisted museums and judge their experience against the Manifesto."

To apply, email award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk and tell them why you’d like your family to be judges.

Meet the six shortlisted museums:

The Geffrye Museum
 
The Geffrye’s period rooms tell the story of how homes and home life have evolved over time - starting in 1600 and concluding at the end of the 20th century. But as well as showing us where and how we lived, their programme of free art, design, craft, cooking and baking workshops and weekend programme of activities, family-friendly audio-tours, quizzes, trails and activity back-packs also makes them a fine destination for a family museum visit.

geffrye-museum.org.uk

Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter

Anyone who has visited the RAMM will know how well this recently refurbished museum of local and natural history and art welcomes kids and families.

From the little bee costumes for younger visitors to the explorer bags for older children, the museum knows how to let youngsters get the best out of the collection. Add in the handling sessions, kids’ workshops, interactives quizzes and treasure trails and you have one of the most family-focussed museums in the south west.

rammuseum.org.uk

National Coal Mining Museum
 
What better adventure is there than going on an underground mine tour to meet a miner? At the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, kids and families get to do just that.

But as well as being one of the most atmospheric industrial museums in the UK, family visitors are enticed by holiday workshops, family story writing, wacky Wednesdays for the under-fives and weekly themed activities to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays.

ncm.org.uk

The Diving Museum, Gosport

The co-inventor of the diving helmet, John Deane, lived in Gosport from 1835 to 1845, during which time he discovered the Mary Rose.

He would be proud of the way this entirely volunteer-run museum tells the story of diving from the earliest divers and diving equipment to the latest underwater cameras and the way it puts family and kids visits at its core.

divingmuseum.co.uk

Tullie House Museum, Carlisle

Tullie House describes itself as a meeting place for nature, history and art. With collections ranging from the decorative arts and Pre-Raphaelite painting to Roman archaeology and an entomology collection of 100,000 specimens, it’s an excellent place to explore the heritage of Northern Cumbria.

It also prides itself on being a family-friendly venue, with welcoming galleries and a restaurant, family drop-in sessions specially for toddlers and a range of special activities laid on throughout the year.

tulliehouse.co.uk

Winding House Museum, Caerphilly
 
The centrepiece of this vibrant museum in Caerphilly is the Grade II-listed winding engine that was used to take miners down to the Welsh coal seams hundreds of feet below.

But beyond this living insight into the fascinating industrial heritage of the area, Winding House hosts a rolling programme of exhibitions, a local history research centre, a fascinating social history collection and, of course, family-friendly events throughout the year, ranging from crafty historical workshops to talks and gallery trails.

windinghouse.co.uk

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Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art531449-family-friendly-museum-award-shortlist-revealed-as-shout-goes-out-for-family-judges