Historic journeys take team to awards
Roaming with the Romans and being beside the Victorian seaside are just some of the themes which have transported Warwickshire County Council to a regional awards ceremony.
The council’s Heritage Education Service has been shortlisted for an Innovation prize at the Renaissance West Midlands ‘Best of the West’ Awards which celebrate the achievements of the region’s museums and galleries. The awards ceremony is taking place on Friday 26 February at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham.
Heritage Education toured around the county last summer with the collections of the Warwickshire Museum Service and Warwickshire County Record Office, delivering 80 imaginative events using the Museum on the Move bus and venues they had never visited before.
Families learnt about the tropical sea that covered Jurassic Warwickshire, met larger-than-life Roman soldiers, tried out some classic cars and transport from bygone times, and even visited a Victorian seaside at St John’s House Museum complete with a Punch and Judy stall and donkey.
Councillor Chris Saint, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure and Housing at Warwickshire County Council, said: “‘The judges of the awards have been impressed by Heritage Education’s innovative way of taking Warwickshire’s collections to the public.
"Delivering such a varied and engaging programme of family learning at ten venues across Warwickshire each week was an impressive journey in itself. Wherever Heritage Education went they made a positive impact and introduced many new people to their work and the heritage of Warwickshire.”
Rebecca Williams of Heritage Education said: "It is wonderful news to be nominated, especially for our hard-working team who worked throughout the summer to deliver 80 events all around Warwickshire for children and families to enjoy. We are looking forward to doing it again in summer 2010."