The Harris Celebrates Dual Shortlisting at the 24th Annual Museums + Heritage Awards
The shortlisted nominees have been announced for the annual Museums + Heritage Awards sponsored by Altair Media Ltd. The global awards celebrate the very best in the world of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions.
This year’s shortlist, which includes entrants from all over the United Kingdom as well as museums and other cultural organisations in 10 other countries ranging from Malta to Australia and Spain, have been chosen by an independent panel of nine judges, who are all well-known in the museum’s world. The shortlist reflects the diversity of the Museum and Heritage sector featuring organisations such as the Fitzwilliam Museum and Jane Austen’s House as well as national museums such as the Natural History Museum among the 19 categories.
The Harris has been shortlisted in two categories, recognising both its creative programming and its major restoration project. The Harris’ recent exhibition, Wallace and Gromit In A Case at the Museum, has been shortlisted for Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year (budget less than £80k), celebrating the success of the major animation exhibition which brought the beloved characters back to Preston and attracted thousands of visitors.
The Harris has also been shortlisted for Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year for Harris Your Place, the landmark project designed by Buttress Architects. The nomination recognises the ambitious transformation and conservation of the historic building, revitalising the Grade I listed cultural venue while preserving its heritage and expanding its role as a civic space for Preston and beyond.
Harris Your Place has been made possible by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council, Towns Fund, and a wide range of supporters and funders.
Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member of Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said: “We’re incredibly proud to see The Harris recognised with two shortlisting’s at the Museum + Heritage Awards. From the creativity of the Wallace and Gromit exhibition to the transformational Harris Your Place project, these nominations highlight the ambition and dedication of everyone involved in reimagining this much-loved cultural landmark. It’s a fantastic reflection of the work being done to ensure The Harris continues to inspire residents and visitors while preserving its historic significance for future generations.”
Director Neal Charlton, Buttress Architects, said: “Being shortlisted for Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year is a wonderful recognition of what The Harris means to Preston and its communities. Harris Your Place has been an opportunity to work with a building of national significance while ensuring it continues to evolve as a welcoming, relevant civic space for future generations.
“This nomination reflects the dedication of everyone involved – from the client side, the project team and specialists to the wider community who helped shape the vision. We’re incredibly proud to see The Harris celebrated alongside so many exemplary projects across the sector.”
Ngaio Harding-Hill, Director of Attractions & Live Experiences and Archive at Aardman: “It’s wonderful to see Wallace & Gromit In A Case at the Museum recognised at a national level. The exhibition was driven by a real desire to create something joyful, accessible and meaningful for audiences of all ages, while celebrating the craft and creativity of British animation. To be shortlisted alongside such high-quality projects is a testament to the collaborative effort behind the exhibition and to The Harris’ ambition to deliver bold, engaging cultural experiences for its community.”
Anna Preedy, Director of Museums + Heritage Awards commented: “This year we received a record number of entries to the Awards, which has been fantastic to see. I was particularly struck by how competitive the Community Engagement category has become. Museums and cultural organisations increasingly act as welcoming spaces at the heart of their communities, and it has been inspiring to see how many projects have been developed in genuine collaboration with those communities. Many exhibitions and initiatives have been co-curated, placing community voices front and centre and creating space for stories to be shared in ways that are imaginative, inclusive and far less prescriptive.”
