Press Releases week beginning 29 April 2019

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery needs your votes!

A Hastings museum has been put forward for a national award for going the extra mile to welcome children, young people and families.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery has been nominated for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award 2019. This is the first time the museum has been nominated.

Charity Kids in Museums awards the prize annually to one museum, gallery, historic home or heritage site in the UK that has made outstanding efforts to include children and families and respond to their feedback. The prestigious award is now in its 14th year.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery is a family-friendly museum with amazingly diverse collections - there really is something for everyone! The Museum was established over 120 years ago and has always offered local people and visitors to the town the opportunity to explore art, culture and history from around the world. The Museum have a regular programme of fun family-friendly events and activities, alongside permanent on-gallery games, toys and interactive exhibits. Our regular programme has grown this year and includes old favourites such as our weekly Starlings Museum Group music session for babies and toddlers and brand-new activities like LEGO Makers club for teenagers.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery is now appealing for families to share their experiences of visiting the museum with Kids in Museums to support its application.

Damian Etherington Museum and cultural development manager said,

"We are delighted that our visitors have nominated us for the Family Friendly Museum Award. We love putting on new and exciting family activities, such as the Dinosaur Day and the Iguanodon restaurant last summer, the Chick Chase this Easter and our new relaxed early openings for neurodiverse children and their families. If you have enjoyed a visit with your family, we would be grateful if you could send your experience to Kids in Museums to give us the strongest possible application.

To nominate Hastings Museum & Art Gallery for the Family Friendly Museum Award, visit the Kids in Museums website and fill in the online form: www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/awards.

The deadline for nominations is noon on 31 May 2019.

In June an expert panel will whittle down the nominations to a shortlist. Undercover family judges will then visit each shortlisted museum and assess them on how well they meet the Kids in Museums Manifesto. The winner will be revealed at an awards ceremony in October.