Four museums shortlisted for Gulbenkian Prize
The Gulbenkian Prize for THE Museum of the Year shortlist has been announced, with four finalists vying for the award. …
The Gulbenkian Prize for THE Museum of the Year shortlist has been announced, with four finalists vying for the award. The chair of the judges, Richard Sykes, said: 'In telling the stories of working people up and down the land, the Gulbenkian finalists have helped us understand and take pride in our own histories.
Museums that tell these stories well have created a new audience of museum-goers and have turned the stereotype of an exclusive,
quiet and intimidating experience on its head.'
The Big Pit, the National Mining Museum of Wales, Blaenafon, has undergone a £7m redevelopment project. Big Pit employs former miners, who offer guided tours of the 300-foot descent into the colliery.
Peter Walker, the keeper and manager of Big Pit, said: 'Big Pit is representative of everybody involved in the coal industry in Wales, and getting as far as the final of this important competition is a tribute to all those people.'
The Coventry Transport Museum explores 200 years of Britain's transport history. In March 2004, a £7.5m redevelopment was completed and the museum saw the opening of four new galleries and a new frontage. Barry Littlewood, the chief executive, said: 'We are over the moon to be recognised.'
Time and Tide, the Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, Norfolk, offers an in-depth exploration of Great Yarmouth's socio-cultural history. The new £4.7m museum opened in July 2004.
'We are re-setting the course for heritage in Great Yarmouth. This announcement testifies to the enthusiastic manner in which [Time and Tide] has been received.'
Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon is a new £11m railway museum, opened in September 2004. It celebrates Shildon's history as one of the world's oldest railway towns and is the first national museum in the north-east of England.
George Muirhead, the museum manager of Locomotion, said: 'Reaching the final stage of this prestigious arts award is a tremendous achievement.'
Museums that tell these stories well have created a new audience of museum-goers and have turned the stereotype of an exclusive,
quiet and intimidating experience on its head.'
The Big Pit, the National Mining Museum of Wales, Blaenafon, has undergone a £7m redevelopment project. Big Pit employs former miners, who offer guided tours of the 300-foot descent into the colliery.
Peter Walker, the keeper and manager of Big Pit, said: 'Big Pit is representative of everybody involved in the coal industry in Wales, and getting as far as the final of this important competition is a tribute to all those people.'
The Coventry Transport Museum explores 200 years of Britain's transport history. In March 2004, a £7.5m redevelopment was completed and the museum saw the opening of four new galleries and a new frontage. Barry Littlewood, the chief executive, said: 'We are over the moon to be recognised.'
Time and Tide, the Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, Norfolk, offers an in-depth exploration of Great Yarmouth's socio-cultural history. The new £4.7m museum opened in July 2004.
'We are re-setting the course for heritage in Great Yarmouth. This announcement testifies to the enthusiastic manner in which [Time and Tide] has been received.'
Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon is a new £11m railway museum, opened in September 2004. It celebrates Shildon's history as one of the world's oldest railway towns and is the first national museum in the north-east of England.
George Muirhead, the museum manager of Locomotion, said: 'Reaching the final stage of this prestigious arts award is a tremendous achievement.'