Kids in Museums

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WE HAVE A WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN FAMILY FRIENDLY MUSEUM AWARD 2008!

Families have chosen Weston Park Museum, Sheffield, as the winner of the
2008 Guardian Family Friendly Museum Award. The announcement is made in the Guardian on Thursday 1 May.

Dea Birkett, Director of Kids in Museums which works with the Guardian on the Award, says “It’s easy to target toddlers or lone adults, so we made sure the five shortlisted museums were put through their paces by many generations of families. Weston Park took enormous care of every one of its visitors.”

Four generations of one family judged Weston Park from a great grandmother to her toddler great grand-child. The Sheffield Museum proved to be friendly to every one of the large family.

“The aim of the Award is to spread the news that you can be family-friendly and fun for everyone,” says Dea Birkett. “And that you can achieve this without compromising excellence. Being welcoming to families doesn’t mean dumbing down, it means opening up. It raises expectations, and therefore standards. It makes museums places of debate and ideas. It puts them at the centre of our culture and our communities.”

* Weston Park was picked from a five-strong shortlist, including Dulwich Picture Gallery (London), Manchester Art Gallery, Shetland Museum and Archive and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

* Would you like to tell us about your museum visit? Do go to our Discussion Boards at www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk and join in the debate. It’s your voice - the visitor’s, that counts.

For further information or images please contact Dea Birkett, Kids in Museums director - Tel 020 7735 5261 or award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk.

To contact Kids in Museums or order copies of the Kids in Museums Manifesto illustrated by Quentin Blake, email:

getintouch@kidsinmuseums.org.uk.

Kids in Museums
PO Box 20479
London SE17 3WF

tel 020 7735 5261

Kids in Museums logo and banner illustrations all © Quentin Blake.