Beamish wins prestigious Museum of the Year award

In the United Kingdom, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, has received the Art Fund Museum of the Year award for 2025, along with a £120,000 prize. This award acknowledges the exceptional contributions Beamish has made to preserve and promote the heritage of the North East of England. The museum, well-known for its immersive exhibits, allows visitors to engage with historical experiences through costumed staff and volunteers. Recently, Beamish successfully completed its 'Remaking Beamish' project, which accurately recreated a 1950s town, reflecting the original spaces with the help of local community members. Over 32,000 community participants, including 14,338 schoolchildren, collaborated in creating 31 new exhibits for the museum, emphasizing its community engagement. In addition to the town, the museum also opened a series of miners' homes, highlighting the historical welfare provisions for retired miners in County Durham. Renowned figures praised the museum for its attention to detail and its role in enriching local communities. Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund and chair of the judges, emphasized how Beamish embodies the stories and experiences of its community, showcasing why the museum is a unique and joyous destination. The award ceremony took place at the Museum of Liverpool, where Rhiannon Hiles, Chief Executive of Beamish, received the award. Comedian Phil Wang, also a judge, expressed his enthusiasm for the museum's engaging atmosphere. The recognition highlights Beamish's role in enhancing community pride, as observed by culture secretary Lisa Nandy, who praised the museum for showcasing the region's heritage. The highly commended shortlisted museums included Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast, and Perth Museum in Perth & Kinross, among others, leading to a total prize pool of £180,000 for Art Fund Museum of the Year.