Maritime Museum Reaches Final of the Family Friendly Museum Awards
National Maritime Museum Cornwall

By: National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Added: 01 August 2014

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall is delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted listed for the prestigious Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award for the second year running.

The Family Friendly Museum Award is the biggest museum award in Britain and the only one judged by families.  The award, run with the charity Kids in Museums, aims to celebrate those museums that enthral children of all ages.  Kids in Museums is an independent charity dedicated to making museums open and welcoming to all families, in particular those who haven’t visited before.

Over 800 sites were nominated by families, children, curators, volunteers and museum professionals from all over the country and the shortlist was then chosen by an expert panel of judges. The panel was chaired by Jenny Abramsky, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund and among the judges were Game of Thrones actress Hannah Murray, historian and broadcaster Helen Castor and Damian Dibben, children’s author and Patron of Kids in Museums.

Jonathan Griffin, Director of the Maritime Museum, says: “Everyone at the Museum is delighted and incredibly proud to have reached the final of the Family Friendly Museum Award once again.  Making the Museum accessible, interesting and lively for children and families has been our priority from the moment the place opened. We aspire to be a museum that does not talk at children and families, but allows them to discover things in a fresh, human and enjoyable way.”

Damian Dibben, author of bestselling The History Keeper series and Patron of Kids in Museums says: “The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth opens up a world of seafaring exploration. Here you get the sense that young people are not just welcome, they’re vital. All year round, there is an astonishing array of workshops, sleepovers and hands on activities.”

The winner of the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award 2014 will be announced on September 26 at a ceremony at the Telegraph newspaper.