2006 Awards

The diverse range of winners in the 2006 awards shows that it’s quality that matters, not size. Ten awards and six commendations were made to projects ranging from modest local schemes to nationally significant visitor attractions with budgets in excess of £1m.

Special category - inclusivity

For our special category, five awards and commendations were made to projects which showed excellence in their inclusive approach. These addressed the needs of target groups such as people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and socially or financially disadvantaged people.

Loyd Grossman, Patron of AHI, presented the 2006 awards at a ceremony at the SS Great Britain in Bristol.

The details of each Award and Commendation winner give the text of the original judges' comments.

The boardwalk leading into the heart of Barton Broad

Award and Special Award

Barton Broad Restoration Project

The Broads Authority

High quality wooden causeways take visitors, including those with disabilities, on an exciting journey into a waterworld that would otherwise be impenetrable.

A visitor using a wheelchair explores the ship

Award and Special Commendation

Brunel's SS Great Britain

SS Great Britain Trust

This is an excellent and inspiring scheme. The presentation of the ship in the glass sea enables any visitor to picture clearly what life would have been like on board.

The Hardman's carefully re-created kitchen

Award

Mr Hardman's Photographic Studio

The National Trust

This was a charming experience. The house brought the Hardmans to life as a somewhat eccentric couple, and it made for an enjoyable and atmospheric visit.

Using the interactive displays in the museum

Award and Special Award

National Waterfront Museum

Amgueddfa Cymru / National Museum Wales

The technological media facilitated rather than detracted from the human nature of the interpretive themes. There is clear evidence to show planned interpretation.

Using an interactive exhibit that explains the stages of a lifeboat rescue

Award

RNLI Henry Blogg Museum

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

The project successfully fulfilled its aims. It provides a clear and absorbing story of the lifeboat and its captain, and of the eponymous Henry Blogg.

A family examines the contents of one of the geo-cache boxes

Award

Secret Hills Time Trail

Shropshire County Council

This is a brilliantly conceived, innovative, particularly well planned and well executed project. The use of geocaching is well supported by interpretive principles.

Exhibit cases with a mixture of large images, multi-media screens and masks

Award

The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats

Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann / National Library of Ireland

The National Library of Ireland’s new Yeats exhibition is magnificent. Especially impressive is the information technology that enables one to scrutinise manuscripts.

Children use an interactive exhibit next to some Tudor-period hats

Award

Threads of Time Exhibition

The National Trust

The multi-media approach provided a ‘way in’ for all the visitors we observed, and the triumph was to bring to life the objects in the Elizabethan house.

A guide in Tudor costume speaks to two boys

Award

Tudor Lives

Tyne and Wear Museums

This exhibition is an excellent facility –it offers engaging activities and self-driven interactives, supported by enthusiastic staff members and volunteers.

A mosaic celebrating the exploits of Owain Glyndwr

Award and Special Award

War and Peace at Aberystwyth Castle

Ceredigion Museum

The mosaics are decorative and entirely appropriate, they are informative and well made and good use of redundant space has been made to house them.

A part of the exhibition area, showing a gracious, Regency-style interior

Commendation

A Century of Memories Exhibition

Belfast City Council

The judges were impressed with what the designers did with a confined space and felt that the exhibition was informative, entertaining and, on the whole, accessible.

One of the Lewis chess pieces included in the exhibition

Commendation

Across the Board - Around the World in 18 Games

Tyne and Wear Museums

The choice of theme was imaginative, with a broad appeal to all age ranges and across social, economic and cultural divides.

A large panel with images of the miners who used to work at the Wheel

Commendation

Great Laxey Wheel 150th Anniversary

Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin / Manx National Heritage

Well-positioned panels explained the functions of the various remains and the social history of the communities who worked there.

A Negro boy and a girl using hand-held audio guides, with a large ship exhibit in the background

Commendation and Special Commendation

Look, Touch, Listen, Smell

Tyne and Wear Museums

A range of new media for visitors of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. They have consulted comprehensively on how best to engage visitors with particular needs.

Salmon leaping the weir at Philiphaugh

Commendation

Philiphaugh Salmon Viewing Initiative

Tweed Forum

The project has developed a good set of visitor centre displays. It is very pleasing to see well thought-out and easily digestible exhibits.

Work stations with headsets and whiteboards within the bunker

Commendation

York ROC Cold War Bunker

English Heritage

Everyone should go to see the York Cold War bunker. English Heritage deserves a commendation for bravely tackling this raw and emotionally powerful subject.