Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery has won the Sandford Award for heritage education

Tunbridge Wells museum and art gallery wins the sandford award for heritage education

Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery has received The Sandford Award for Heritage Education. The award recognises quality and excellence in heritage education and has also been awarded to sites such as Blenheim Palace and Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. The awards ceremony took place on Monday 12 November at the RAF Museum at Cosford in Shropshire.

Carole Souter, the Director of the Heritage Lottery Fund, presented the award to Katrina Burton, Audience Development Officer, who received it on behalf of the Museum and Art Gallery.

Irene Davies, a judge for the Heritage Education Trust, visited the Museum and Art Gallery in May and observed two education sessions with local schools, commenting on the museum she said, 'The Museum and Art Gallery’s education service works with over 5,000 local school children every year, ranging from those in pre-school groups to secondary school children. It also provides activities for around 10,000 children during school holidays throughout
the year.'

Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery has won the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage education

Photo by DCAE Cosford

The staff of Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery are dedicated to providing a learning environment for each audience, and inclusiveness is the keyword. They meet their own objectives of supporting teaching and learning, both in and out of school, through active learning which is both informative and fun. With all of their varied activities, they succeed in being a museum for the people.’

Cllr James Scholes, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said:
‘For Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, The Sandford Heritage Award not only recognises the excellence and quality in heritage education, but it is also proof of the hard work that goes in to achieving such standards. The staff continually deliver a high quality education service to a wide range of local children.’