WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Prestigious industry accolades awarded to leading lights of the Museum and Heritage sector

Visitor attractions from across the UK have been recognised for their remarkable achievements at the Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence 2011.

The winners and runners-up in each of the 11 categories were announced by broadcaster and comedienne Sue Perkins on May 11 at the glittering Awards ceremony at London's Church House, Westminster.

Created by The Museums & Heritage Show, the sector's largest annual trade exhibition, the Awards recognise best practice within the world of museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions.

Hundreds of industry professionals joined together at the ceremony - the Oscars of the museum industry - to celebrate the considerable achievements and spectacular projects taking place in cultural attractions across the UK and Europe.

Bernard Donoghue, Director Designate, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions,said: "There has never been a better or more important time to celebrate our museums, galleries, culture and heritage than now. Our heritage and those who preserve, curate, interpret and present it is fundamentally important to our education, local and national economies and in defining our sense of who we are. These Awards celebrate the best collections, exhibitions, innovation and entrepreneurship; they set the benchmark for excellence in the sector."

Amongst the 2011 winners is Liverpool's Merseyside Maritime Museum, which fought off strong competition to win the much-coveted Classic Award for its continued growth, development and sustained interest from visitors both regionally and nationally. The winner of the International Award was Martello Media Ltd for Glasnevin Museum in Dublin - a dramatic concept which carefully balanced due reverence with theatricality, admired by the judging panel for its exceptional quality of concept, design and execution. The Permanent Exhibition Award is the most hotly contended category and this year's accolade was awarded to The National Trust for Scotland's Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, which was created and developed by Event Communications.

Of special note is the inclusion of a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was awarded posthumously to Brian Stewart of Falmouth Art Gallery.

The winners, highly commended and shortlisted entries are a wonderful reflection of the industry's growing diversity. Each museum, cultural and heritage visitor attraction is recognised for its excellence - whether for an innovative and groundbreaking exhibition or for making a considerable achievement on the smallest of budgets.

Following the glittering ceremony, Sue Perkins said: "It was a real delight to host the Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence. I was truly impressed by the incredible diversity of our amazing cultural sector and it is great to see that, despite the obvious challenges faced, it is very much alive and kicking!"

The Awards were judged by a panel of industry professionals, including: Diane Lees, Director-General, Imperial War Museum; Bernard Donoghue, Director Designate, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions; Sam Mullins, Director, London Transport Museum; Matthew Tanner, Director, ssGreatBritain and Marie Roberts, Editor, M&H Magazine.

For a full list of winners, please see the attached document or visit the website www.museumsandheritage.com

Steff Lewis-Sabey

PR Manager

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