Museum shortlisted for national family friendly award

Derby Museums’ Museum of Making has been shortlisted for a national award recognising the most family friendly museums in the UK.

The museum, which opened last year, has been named as a finalist for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.

The Museum of Making will be competing against three other museums in the Best Medium Museum category.

Kids in Museums has run a prestigious annual award for 16 years, recognising the most family friendly heritage sites in the UK. It is the only museum award to be judged by families.

From late March to early June, families across the UK voted for their favourite heritage attraction on the Kids in Museums website.

A panel of museum experts then whittled down hundreds of nominations to a shortlist of 16 heritage attractions.

Tony Butler, executive director at Derby Museums, said: “We are honoured to have been shortlisted for this esteemed award from Kids in Museums, not least as the nominations have come from families themselves.

“Being nominated for this award is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteer team, who work tirelessly to ensure that our family offer at the museums is relevant, welcoming and inclusive to all.”

At the Museum of Making, families are encouraged to be curious, learn together and try their hand at making, whatever their ability, inspired by the museum’s vast and unique collection of made objects and stories.

The museum even offers special sessions for babies and tots to explore their senses and develop creativity and confidence through play.

Over the summer holidays, the museum will be visited by undercover family judges who will assess the shortlisted museums against the Kids in Museums Manifesto.

Their experiences will decide a winner for each award category and an overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2022.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.

The Museum of Making is currently one of five museums shortlisted for the prestigious £100,000 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award 2022, in recognition of its innovative work inspiring future generations to learn, think and make.

Regarded as the world’s largest museum prize, the winner will be announced on 14 July.