Haslemere Educational Museum in Surrey was this week announced as the winner of the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum award.
Kids in Museums patron, Mariella Frostrup, said the award was important because it gives a real voice to families and children: “[The family judges] chose Haslemere not because of an outstanding collection – even though there’s a lovely stuffed bear, a giant spider crab and even an Egyptian mummy – but because of the welcome they received. Nothing was too much for the staff and volunteers. It’s a gem.”
The independent museum has a dozen staff and receives over 35,000 visitors a year.
According to Julie Tanner, curator at Haslemere Educational Museum, staff were ecstatic to have won the award.
She said: “We have always endeavoured to make the museum welcoming and engaging, so it is hugely gratifying for all those involved to receive this fabulous recognition. It is a great honour and thrill to win and to know that it is voted for by the visitors.
"It is especially wonderful to win such a prestigious award as a small independent museum. We wish to thank the Telegraph, the Kids in Museums team and our family judges.”
Sandra Tellyn, who visited the museum with her three children as family judges, said the museum's volunteers couldn’t have been more welcoming. “It was perfect. Everyone we spoke to gave more than they had to. They were just amazing. It’s a little haven.”
Other museums on the shortlist for the prize were: the World Museum, Liverpool; the Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands; Brixham Heritage Museum, Devon; Wolverhampton Art Galley; and the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Mansfield Museum won the award last year. Its education officer Geoff Liptrot said it was a huge boost to morale at a difficult time to be working in museums.
“It raises the bar and has unquestionably raised our profile,” he added. “We are council-run and this award gave us extra points with the council when dodging the austerity bullets.”
Kids in Museums patron, Mariella Frostrup, said the award was important because it gives a real voice to families and children: “[The family judges] chose Haslemere not because of an outstanding collection – even though there’s a lovely stuffed bear, a giant spider crab and even an Egyptian mummy – but because of the welcome they received. Nothing was too much for the staff and volunteers. It’s a gem.”
The independent museum has a dozen staff and receives over 35,000 visitors a year.
According to Julie Tanner, curator at Haslemere Educational Museum, staff were ecstatic to have won the award.
She said: “We have always endeavoured to make the museum welcoming and engaging, so it is hugely gratifying for all those involved to receive this fabulous recognition. It is a great honour and thrill to win and to know that it is voted for by the visitors.
"It is especially wonderful to win such a prestigious award as a small independent museum. We wish to thank the Telegraph, the Kids in Museums team and our family judges.”
Sandra Tellyn, who visited the museum with her three children as family judges, said the museum's volunteers couldn’t have been more welcoming. “It was perfect. Everyone we spoke to gave more than they had to. They were just amazing. It’s a little haven.”
Other museums on the shortlist for the prize were: the World Museum, Liverpool; the Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands; Brixham Heritage Museum, Devon; Wolverhampton Art Galley; and the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Mansfield Museum won the award last year. Its education officer Geoff Liptrot said it was a huge boost to morale at a difficult time to be working in museums.
“It raises the bar and has unquestionably raised our profile,” he added. “We are council-run and this award gave us extra points with the council when dodging the austerity bullets.”