The Marsh Volunteers for Museum Learning Award

In June 2009, the British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust presented their first awards for volunteers engaging museum audiences.

This exciting new award recognises best practice and the innovative ways in which volunteers work in museums and galleries to engage the public with collections.

The national winner of the 2009 Marsh Volunteers for Museum Learning Award is Beth Talbot for her work at Pollok House, National Trust for Scotland.
 

Who can enter?

Any individual or group of people who worked on a voluntary basis in direct contact with the public in an accredited museum or gallery can apply. The voluntary work must have taken place during 2008 and must have a focus on education or learning. There will be 12 regional winners (9 English regions and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and one overall winner.

A museum may enter on behalf of an individual volunteer or group of volunteers. Volunteers at the British Museum are not permitted to apply.

The ways in which you engage with museum audiences could include activity both at the museum and off-site in an outreach capacity. The museum audiences you work with could be specific, such as school groups or families, or it could be general visitors to your museum.

Details of the 2010 award will be released in the autumn.

The prizes

Each regional winner receives £250. The overall winner chosen from the regional winners also receives an additional £1000. All winners receive a certificate. Prizes are presented at a ceremony at the British Museum.

Judging criteria

Applications are judged against the following criteria

  • Making a difference to their museum
  • Improving the museum experience for visitors
  • Positive feedback from museum visitors and staff

The judging

Entries are judged by a panel comprising of Marsh Trust staff, British Museum volunteers and staff, and a representative from one of the regions. The decisions of the judging panel are final. No entry will win by default if it is the only entry in a region; it must meet the criteria and will be entered in with a neighbouring region for judging purposes.

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