This is your chance to thank your volunteers!

So, if you would like to give a very public show of appreciation to your volunteer(s) simply nominate the individual or team you think most deserving. 

FREE TO ENTER!

Please refer to the How to Enter eligibility section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

Up to two winners will be selected:

1. one which has used simple, affordable and easily-transferable approaches, like our 2023 winner, Food Museum.

2. one which is a project with environmental sustainability embedded at its heart, like our 2023 winner, SS Great Britain Trust.

Entries should demonstrate how their project or exhibition has used, for example, energy efficiency measures, green visitor travel planning or unique approaches to engaging audiences with the climate crisis.

Entries should also identify any wider economic, social or environmental benefits to the organisation or community which have arisen from ‘thinking sustainably’.  Capital projects in particular might wish to demonstrate how they deliver against relevant UN Sustainability Goals

As a guide, to see what The National Lottery Heritage Fund expects of the projects it funds, explore its environmental sustainability guidance

Your application must apply to projects which were delivered during 2023.

FREE TO ENTER!

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

We are seeking nominees who have a clear vision for their role in the future of our sector, who may inspire and motivate others and who may be actively working to drive positive change in the years to come.

The judges will look to reward those whose work is enhancing the sector through transformative and collaborative ideas and practices. Impact over a significant period, rather than just a short-term success, is important and consistency in achieving positive outcomes is a crucial criterion.

Nominees who have demonstrated the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to achieve sector-wide improvements will be considered favourably.

You can nominate someone else, or you can make your own evidence-based submission.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

Open to UK organisations only

Important to brand and reputation, and a driver of footfall and secondary revenue, the look, feel, ambience, service, and quality of produce are all key to success. As visitor expectations increase, the culinary landscape is evolving; out with stewed tea and white sliced bread and in with destination experiences, local sourcing and sustainable operation. No longer an adjunct, a great café or restaurant should reflect your organisation’s personality, be relevant and respectful of its locality and a destination in its own right.

Your entry should be a regular fixture of your public offer and focus on the customer experience. You must also ensure that you provide the facts and figures including turnover, average spend and profit. Full consideration will be given to the relative size of your organisation and catering space. So please be sure to include all the facts and figures.

Please note that the shortlistees of this category will be put to a Public Vote to determine the winner.  At the end of the day, who better to judge your success than your customers?  Shortlistees will be provided with details of the voting process so that you can actively encourage your customers to nominate your establishment for Café or Restaurant of the Year!  The results will be determined by the number of votes in relation to organisation size (defined by annual visitor numbers).  

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

The possibilities are endless, from new technologies to companies providing the sector with a chance to save time or money, or helping grow audiences and gain new insights.

All products and services were considered, from ground-breaking technology to developments in sustainability, audience tracking, communication, and cataloguing and conservation.

To pitch for the title of Museums + Heritage Innovator of the Year, you must submit a video of up to three minutes in which you must clearly explain why your company and/or products and services are worthy of this title.

The video does not have to be a big production, it could be shot on a smartphone in one take.

Please note that the shortlistees of this category will be put to a sector-wide to determine the winner. 

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

HR, finance, cleaning, grounds maintenance and collections care staff are just a few of the eligible teams carrying out essential work.

The award is intended to celebrate great teamwork which has had a positive impact and which makes a difference in the day-to-day running of your organisation.

The judges will be looking for evidence of consistent good practice, commitment to positive change, collaborative approach and all-around outstanding performance.

This is a chance to show your appreciation for the positive impact that your nominated team has had on your organisation.

What better way to say thank you than to nominate them for Team of the Year?

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

This important award is brought to you in partnership with Association of Independent Museums (AIM).

Open to UK organisations only

This important award seeks to celebrate the greatest visitor experience and the most welcoming atmosphere.

Understanding, knowing, listening and communicating with your visitors is at the heart of this category and, from start to finish, impressions count. Please describe what your organisation has done to ensure that your visitors get the best welcome ever.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

The judges will be looking for evidence of innovative design and interpretation within the project brief and budget. They are seeking thoughtfully designed experiences with effective storytelling throughout that engages, informs, and inspires. 

Particular attention should be paid to the impact the exhibition has had on the overall museum, gallery or heritage attraction as well as to its visitors.

Full consideration will be given to budget in relation to size and scope of the project so please be sure to include all of the *facts and figures*.

All figures and costs are treated in confidence.

For designers and contractors wishing to enter this category, it is imperative that the submission is made with the permission of your client. Where possible, we recommend that the submission is made jointly, with the input of your client.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

Open to UK organisations only.  For non-UK exhibitions please refer to the International Exhibition of the Year category.

Entries for this award should highlight excellence in the creation of a temporary or touring exhibition, designed to be featured within a museum, gallery or heritage attraction. Particular attention should be given to the effectiveness of the exhibition in attracting new and diverse audiences. 

For designers and contractors wishing to enter this category, it is imperative that the submission is made with the permission of your client. Where possible, we recommend that the submission is made jointly, with the input of your client.

The exhibition must have been open to the public at some point within the period of eligibility ie 2023.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

Please be clear about your objectives and define who the beneficiaries of the programme are/were. When describing your work be sure to tell us how you achieved your objectives, placing particular emphasis on the impact it had on teachers and learning audiences including primary, secondary and SEND schools and FE/HE providers.

Please include numbers – explain how many people benefited and what increase in engagement there has been. The judges will also be looking at how programmes are relevant to local audiences as well as supporting local and national strategies.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

Tell us how your community engagement work is tailored to meet the needs and interests of specific target groups, to offer wider access to your organisation, its collections and stories.

Ensure you describe the community or communities you were working with and in describing the process of delivery, place particular emphasis on how you overcame any barriers to engagement. Please describe the positive impact that this work has had on your community and provide evidence of outcomes – these could include new and return visits, shifting demographics, development of partnerships, etc. 

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

This can consist of a sustained campaign or a one-off initiative. Entries can cover events, viral marketing, fundraising campaigns, use of social media, advertising, PR, sponsorship activities etc but must demonstrate creativity and originality, a provable impact and clearly illustrate an effective return on investment.

Be sure to be clear about the impact your strategy has had in terms of visitor numbers, new audiences and/or engagement.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

We’re all stronger together!

The Judges will look for partnerships that have achieved something which individual organisations could not have done on their own, and which demonstrates creativity and had a significant impact on people, collections or place.

The project or programme should involve at least one museum, collection or heritage/cultural site or organisation, and one or more additional partners (which may be non-museum or heritage organisations). Particular emphasis should be given to the impact the partnership has had and its lasting legacy.

Please note that your entry must focus on the benefits and strengths of the *partnership* not on the detail of, for example, an exhibition or event that may have been delivered as a result of your partnership.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only

The focus of this award is not on the digitisation process itself but on how organisations have used digital innovations to take stories to new audiences. Examples might include streaming live events, new digital experiences, commercial partnerships, online games, etc. 

Entries must demonstrate how you have successfully altered your digitised offering to reach new audiences, in new and creative ways, as well as using these tools to enhance other activities such as commercial or learning. Be clear about impact and evaluation and clearly demonstrate why and how your digital project or programme has been successful. 

Consideration will be given to the relative size of your organisation.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.
Open to UK organisations only but please note there is an International version of this category too.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

Open to UK organisations only

This category relates to both permanent and temporary exhibitions outside the UK.

The judges will be looking for evidence of innovative design and interpretation within the project brief and budget. They are seeking thoughtfully designed experiences with effective storytelling throughout that engages, informs, and inspires. 

Particular attention should be paid to the impact the exhibition has had on the overall museum, gallery or heritage attraction as well as to its new and/or existing visitors.

Full consideration will be given to the budget in relation to the size and scope of the project so please be sure to include all of the *facts and figures*.

All figures and costs are treated in confidence.

This award category is open to museums, galleries, archives, heritage visitor attractions, organisations, charities and bodies plus their suppliers, contractors and partners. For designers and contractors wishing to enter this category, it is imperative that the submission is made with the permission of your client. Where possible, we recommend that the submission is made jointly, with the input of your client.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

Open only to exhibitions outside of the UK only

The focus of this award is not on the digitisation process itself but on how organisations have used digital innovations to take stories to new audiences. Examples might include streaming live events, new digital experiences, commercial partnerships, online games, etc. 

Entries must demonstrate how you have successfully altered your digitised offering to reach new audiences, in new and creative ways, as well as using these tools to enhance other activities such as commercial or learning. Be clear about impact and evaluation and clearly demonstrate why and how your digital project or programme has been successful. 

Consideration will be given to the relative size of your organisation.

Please refer to the How to Enter section for further details including eligibility information.

Open only to projects created outside of the UK