17 category winners and many other shortlistees highly commended by the judges received glowing acclaim during the livestreamed event hosted by journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed.
Central to the 2021 edition of the event was marking the achievements of organisations and individuals who have evidenced remarkable levels of ambition and resilience throughout the pandemic.
In a first for the Awards, two categories – COVID Supplier of the Year and COVID Special Recognition Award – were decided by a public vote. It was specialist heritage consultancy Tricolor Associates that scooped the supplier prize, while ALVA director Bernard Donoghue garnered the most votes for the Special Recognition gong.
The other category dedicated to achievements specific to the past year’s unique terrain saw Gloucester History Trust (fewer than 20 paid FTE employees) and Beamish, The Living Museum of the North (more than 20 paid FTE employees) triumph in the Pandemic Pivot Award.
“We have experienced some very tough times…but we have also seen extraordinary generosity, creativity, resilience and risk-taking,” stated Maggie Appleton MBE, chief executive of the RAF Museum, who this year chaired the judging panel.
“These awards celebrate those fabulous traits of our sector, and of the remarkable people that make it one which is such a joy to be part of.”
2021 winners
Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year
JOINT WINNERS
- The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings – SPAB Old House Project
- National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth City Council, D-Day Story – Landing craft tank LCT 7074 – Rescuing a D-Day Hero
Fundraisers of the Year
WINNER
- Charleston – Save and Reopen Charleston
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- The Cartoon Museum – COVID-19 survival fundraiser
Shop of the Year
WINNER
- The Tank Museum – The Tank Museum’s Online Shop
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- London Transport Museum – London Transport Museum’s Online Shop
Sustainable Project of the Year sponsored by National Lottery Heritage Fund
WINNER
- Jubilee Pool Penzance Ltd – Jubilee Pool Penzance – first geothermal heated pool in the UK
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Derby Museums – Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill
Partnership of the Year
WINNER
- Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (University of Leicester) on behalf of QHCN – Queer Heritage and Collections Network
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- National Museum of the Royal Navy, National Army Museum, RAF Museum, Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Joint Operations – A Tri-Service Museum Partnership
Learning Outreach Award
WINNER
- Leeds Museums and Galleries – Closing the Covid gap: LMG Primary School Membership, curriculum planning and Recovery Curriculum
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Council for British Archaeology, University of Lincoln – Dig School: Enquiry-based learning in archaeology
Community Impact Award
WINNER
Colchester + Ipswich Museums – Museum from Home activity packs
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- The Scottish Crannog Centre – Dig the New Breed! Apprentices and the local community
Volunteers of the Year in partnership with the Association of Independent Museums
WINNER
- Harry and Julian Young – The Lion Salt Works Museum
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Capturing Lives in Scotland’s Communities – Student Mentors – University of Edinburgh Museums
Exhibition of the Year – UK sponsored by Displayways
WINNER
- Garden Museum – Derek Jarman: My Garden’s Boundaries are the Horizon
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- The Box, Plymouth City Council – Permanent Galleries
International Exhibition of the Year sponsored by Displayways
WINNER
- MAS Antwerpen – 100 x Congo. A century of Congolese art in Antwerp
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art – About Time: Fashion and Duration
Best Use of Social Media
WINNER
- Black Country Living Museum – BCLM on TikTok
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- York Museums Trust – #CuratorBattle
Best Use of Digital – UK
WINNER
- National Portrait Gallery – Hold Still: A Portrait of our Nation in 2020
JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Smartify CIC with Playdead and National Galleries of Scotland – Ray Harryhausen at The National Galleries of Scotland
- Barnsley Museums – Going Digital: Barnsley Museums in COVID
Best Use of Digital – International
WINNER
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Met Stories
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- United Workers Club on behalf of Visit Flanders – The Stay at Home Museum
The Pandemic Pivot Award (fewer than 20 paid FTE employees)
WINNER
- Gloucester History Trust – Gloucester Looking Up
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Thelma Hulbert Gallery – The Creative Cabin – art and nature on tour
The Pandemic Pivot Award (more than 20 paid FTE employees)
WINNER
- Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Birmingham Museums Trust – Sarehole Mill – Community Shop and Bakehouse
- National Trust for Scotland – Burn’s Big Night In
COVID Supplier of the Year
WINNER
- Tricolor Associates – Recovery support for many
COVID Special Recognition Award
WINNER
- Bernard Donoghue, Director, ALVA
Appleton was joined on this year’s judging panel by Diane Lees, director general of Imperial War Museums; Matthew Tanner, chief executive of the SS Great Britain Trust; Sam Mullins, director of London Transport Museum; Caro Howell, director of the Foundling Museum; Stephen Duncan, director of commercial and tourism at Historic Environment Scotland; and Bernard Donoghue, director of ALVA.
“It is truly inspiring to see how our winners have been at the very heart of their communities, playing a vital role in helping to ensure people stay connected and supported during the most challenging of times,” notes Anna Preedy, director of the Museums + Heritage Awards.
“I have been awestruck by the sector’s collective energy to not only ride out the storm but to seize opportunities, to transform and to challenge. I am delighted that these Awards shine a spotlight on the crucial role museums and heritage visitor attractions play in helping society to reshape and recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
