This year’s Family Friendly Museum Award includes a new category that celebrates organisations that have given young people meaningful opportunities to explore social justice issues. 

Three organisations are shortlisted to the Best Museum Youth Project: Social Justice award – the Black Cultural Archives, London; Glasgow Life Museums; and Wiltshire Museum.

In a recent survey about what young people think about museums, 88% said they felt it was important for them to address social justice issues. 

The three organisations shortlisted for the Best Museum Youth Project awards join 15 others in the running for the Family Friendly Museum Award, which is run by the charity Kids in Museums.

The other categories are Best Accessible Museum; Best Small Museum; Best Medium Museum; and Best Large Museum.

The Family Friendly Museum Award is for museums, galleries, castles, historic homes and heritage sites that are welcoming, fun and accessible to people of all ages.

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Families voted for their favourite venue on the Kids in Museums website from February to April. An expert panel, including children, young people and accessibility experts cut down the nominations to the 18-strong shortlist.

Over the summer holidays, undercover family judges will visit the shortlisted museums and rate them on how well they meet the Kids in Museums Manifesto, a set of guidelines created by families on what makes a great museum visit for all ages.

Their experiences will decide a winner for each museum category and the overall winner. This will be announced in October at Young V&A in London.

Vanessa Eke, chair of Kids in Museums, said: “During a time of squeezed museum budgets and families still struggling with the cost of living, this shortlist is a testament to the hard work and dedication of venues creating welcoming, memorable experiences for their family visitors.

“It’s great to see how many venues are going the extra mile to provide free and low cost opportunities for families to spend time together, have fun and try something new. The Family Friendly Museum Award is a great opportunity to recognise this ambition and dedication on a national level.”

Best Accessible Museum
  • The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, Canterbury
  • Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Halifax
  • Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park, Barnsley
Best Small Museum
  • Abbey House Museum, Leeds
  • Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea
  • Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre, Barnsley
  • North Lincolnshire Museum, Scunthorpe
  • Showtown Blackpool
Best Medium Museum
  • The Amelia Scott, Tunbridge Wells
  • Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne
  • National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
  • V&A Dundee
Best Large Museum
  • The Burrell Collection, Glasgow
  • Horniman Museum and Gardens, London
  • London Transport Museum, London
Best Museum Youth Project: Social Justice
  • Black Cultural Archives, London
  • Glasgow Life Museums
  • Wiltshire Museum