Museum of Making up for world’s largest museum prize

Derby Museum’s Museum of Making has been shortlisted for a national award in which it could win the world’s largest museum prize.

The museum, which opened last year, has been selected as one of five finalists in the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022 – and, if successful, could win £100,000.

Art Fund annually shortlists five outstanding museums for the Museum of the Year prize.

The 2022 edition champions organisations whose achievements tell the story of museums’ creativity and resilience, and particularly focuses on those engaging the next generation of audiences in innovative ways.

The winning museum will be announced at a ceremony at the Design Museum on 14 July.

The other four shortlisted museums will each receive £15,000 in recognition of their achievements.

The Museum of Making is up against Horniman Museum and Gardens (London), People’s History Museum (Manchester), The Story Museum (Oxford) and Tŷ Pawb (Wrexham).

The Museum of Making opened in May 2021 following a multimillion-pound transformation.

Standing on what is widely regarded as the site of the world’s first modern factory at Derby Silk Mill, the pioneering museum celebrates Derbyshire’s 300-year history of making, innovation, and technology.

It also looks to the future of making and inspires creativity, as at the heart of the museum is the state-of-the-art workshop – a dedicated space packed full of specialist equipment and skilled staff who are on hand to help visitors get creative.

Tony Butler, executive director of Derby Museums, said: “I am thrilled that the Museum of Making has been shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022.

“For over 300 years Derby Silk Mill has been a symbol of the city as a place for innovation and creativity.

“We are so proud of the transformation of the mill into a live, interactive museum, where people can learn, think and make.

“Through its exhibitions, studios and workshops the Museum of Making not only celebrates our past but will inspire future generations.

“The recognition by the Art Fund is a tribute to the collective effort of staff, volunteers and the wider community who have shaped this wonderful museum, for which I am very thankful.”

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund, said: “An abundance of applications to be Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022 shows the creativity and resilience of museums right around the country, despite the immense challenges of the last two years.

“The five superb finalists are all museums on a mission who are tackling the vital issues of today – from combating the climate emergency to improving literacy or exploring migration – and reaching diverse communities as they do so.

“Each is working hard to encourage the next generation to get involved, both to inspire them and to equip them with essential skills.”