Wrexham Museum Shortlisted for Prestigious National Award

Wrexham County Borough Museum has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The Museum has been been nominated for the ‘Family Friendly Museum Award’, which was launched earlier this year by Kids in Museums – an independent charity dedicated to making museums open and welcoming to all families.

The Award is the biggest museum award in Britain – and the only one where families pick the winner.

Wrexham County Borough Museum was shortlisted for the award after receiving hundreds of nominations from visitors.

The Museum is in good company and shares the shortlist with Egypt Centre Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Hampton Court Palace, Manchester Art Gallery, National Glass Centre, the Novium Museum, River and Rowing Museum, Towner Art Gallery, Weald and Downland Open Air Museum and York Art Gallery.

Over the summer period the museum will be visited anonymously by families using the Kids in Museums Manifesto as a guide to their family friendliness before the winner is announced.

The Manifesto is compiled from visitors’ comments and is used by museums around the country to make children, young people and family visits more enjoyable.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “This is excellent news for the Museum and shows all the hard work that staff have put in to ensure a family friendly visitor experience.

“As the summer holidays are now upon us I would highly recommend a visit which will keep everyone entertained.”

Dea Birkett, Creative Director of Kids in Museums added: “It’s great to see Wrexham Museum on the shortlist – it’s a wonderful place that extends a special welcome to families and children. We wish Wrexham luck when the undercover family judges arrive.”

The Museum has a wealth of exhibitions on display at present, including “Touched by Greatness: The Story of Welsh International Football” which tells the story of Welsh footballers through artefacts and archives of the Welsh Football Collection.

Also on display is ‘People and Places – The Royal Fusiliers’ – an exhibition that explores the eventful history of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the regiment’s links to Wrexham in a special display in the main gallery.

There is also the chance to have an adventure into Africa’s past and human creativity through the sacred paintings of the San people (the Bushmen) of southern Africa in the “Sacred Spaces: The Rock Art of the San in southern Africa” exhibition.

The nomination follows the news that the Museum had retained its Quality Assured Visitor Attraction status.

If you or if you know a family who would like to be undercover museum judges and help pick the winner then email [email protected]