Cornish Heritage Award
In March of this year Cornwall Museums Partnership and SW Museum Development hosted the very first Cornwall Heritage Awards to celebrate and champion the amazing work that’s taking place in our museums.
Each week we are highlighting the fantastic work created within museums and heritage organisations across Cornwall. This week we are focussing on the award for the initiative or project that had wide appeal and has raised the profile and understanding of Cornish Heritage.
Winner – St Neot Local Historians for the West Northwood Dig, Eat and Sing
The discovery of an unscheduled Bronze Age Village on the southern slope of Bodmin Moor offered the owners and St Neot Local Historians the opportunity to explore our local heritage. This was achieved by a community excavation of a Bronze Age roundhouse, Open Day demonstrations, school visits and songs inspired by the site. The connection between people and place supported and inspired the singing that celebrated the finish of the dig. More details can be viewed at http://www.westnorthwoodfarm.com
Highly Commended – Falmouth Art Gallery – Artists Afloat – Tuke and Hemy At Sea
An exhibition that detailed the work of Falmouth’s 2 Royal Academians; Charles Napier Hemy and Henry Scott Tuke. The idea behind the show was that the paintings featured in the show were scenes that either artist would have seen from their floating studios out on the seas off Falmouth. Importantly, they returned some major works to Cornwall. The exhibition has potential to tour abroad, and also helped to promote the reputation of Falmouth as a late 19th c. artists’ colony putting it on a level footing with Newlyn and St Ives.
Highly Commended – South East Cornwall Museums Forum – Grand Family History Discovery Day
South East Cornwall Museums Forum consists of nine heritage organisations and together they planned a one-day event to promote engagement in family history, heritage and their organisations. The event was open to other organisations across Cornwall and Devon. The public could view the 21 market stalls, learn about how to research and start their research, take part in activities and sample home-made cakes. The hall buzzed with visitors all day, and there were many squeals of delight from visitors who were helped to find answers to their many varied queries.
Bryony Robins, Museum Development Officer – bryony@cornwallmuseumspartnership.org.uk
