Information on Loughborough

Heritage award winners due to be announced

Posted on 22/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

22 July 2009

Heritage award winners due to be announced

Winners of an annual contest to find the best community-run museum will be announced on Thursday, July 30.

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Heritage Awards ceremony will take place at Stapleford Park, near Melton, on Thursday, July 30. Top prize is a plaque and £100.

Launched 20 years ago by Leicestershire County Council and the Leicestershire and Rutland Museums Forum, the awards recognise the work of volunteers to preserve the area’s rich heritage.

A total of 20 different museums and heritage groups had submitted 35 entries for six different awards:

  • Best special project
  • Best exhibition
  • The award for work with children and young people
  • Best special event
  • The achievement award
  • Museum of the year (chosen from one of the entries to the five categories)

Ernie White, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet member for Better Places, said: “These awards are a celebration of the dedicated people who work so hard to preserve their local history.”

Around 1,000 volunteers run 40 independent museums in the area and they attract 250,000 visitors per year.

The judging panel includes heritage consultant Heather Lomas, Jim McCallum from Voluntary Action Leicester Shire and a panel of young people from CYCLE, the county’s youth council.

For further details about community museums and the awards, see www.leics.gov.uk/community_museums

For media interviews, please contact the press office on 0116 305 7046 or Rob Clarke on 0116 305 4140.