THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM MUSEUM NAMED MUSEUM OF THE YEAR 2010

Mark Laurie, Nottinghamshire Museum Development Officer and the co-ordinator for the awards, said: “Choosing one winner from the high quality of entrants has been a really difficult task for the judges this year. The awards ceremony celebrates the work of all our county’s museums and heritage collections and reminds us how lucky we are to have access to such diverse and such high quality venues and exhibitions, providing great days out for all the family in Nottinghamshire.”

Museum curator Clare Pickersgill is delighted with the accolade. “I’m very happy that The University of Nottingham Museum has received this prestigious award,” she said. “The Museum has expanded over the last two years with the aim of becoming a museum of regional archaeology with something for everyone to enjoy and discover. We will continue to develop our displays and special exhibitions alongside a growing programme of school and community projects taking place both in the Museum and out across Nottinghamshire.

“The Museum has worked in partnership with a wide range of people and organisations including Aln Heritage and the Nottinghamshire County Council Archaeologists; student and local volunteers; local school and community groups; and other regional and national museums. I am very grateful for their support and this award recognises all their hard work. I would also like to acknowledge the help and assistance that Renaissance East Midlands provide for all museums throughout the region.”

The Museum’s collections include artefacts from the last 250,000 years. The majority of these were found in the East Midlands, with some international pieces included in the displays. Many of the artefacts are taken to events across the county so that they can be examined and handled by the public.

Clare has also developed a travelling exhibition ‘Everyday Life in Roman Margidunum’, with Jo Catling of archaeological education company Aln Heritage. The exhibition is based on artefacts found at the Roman settlement of Margidunum, which was centred on what is now the A46 roundabout near Bingham. It is taken into local schools and community groups by University students, allowing pupils to explore how ordinary Romans lived their lives — from the clothes and hairstyles they wore to the coins they used to do their shopping.

Director of Lakeside Arts Centre Shona Powell said “I was thrilled to attend the Awards and to help celebrate the Museum’s success. This is a tremendous recognition of Clare Pickersgill’s terrific work in her first two years in post.”

The Museum is open to the public from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Admission is free. Visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/museum for more info.