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The Bowes Museum’s ‘Curiosity Project’ has been shortlisted for Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museum and Heritage Awards
The Bowes Museum’s ‘Curiosity Project’ has been shortlisted for Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museum and Heritage Awards. The 23rd annual Museum and Heritage Awards, often called ‘the Oscars of the museum world,’ celebrate the very best in the world of museums, galleries, cultural and heritage visitor attractions.
The Curiosity Project invited community individuals and groups through drop-in, open-access workshops. 15 staff members co-led these sessions, developing and facilitating activities to shape discussion and collaboration. Together, in these co-production workshops, the museum gathered responses from 111 participants, whose feedback directly influenced the creation of The Curiosity Gallery, The Create Gallery, The Conversation Gallery, The Hive and three Collection Vaults. The Curiosity Gallery displays a cross-section of the museum’s collection, curated around themes including Teesdale, home, hospitality, materials and more. It includes a soundscape by Durham based artist David de la Haye, inspired by sounds of Teesdale such as High Force.
The Create Gallery is a space where visitors can investigate the making processes behind collection objects, experimenting with materials through prompts and ideas provided by the museum’s Artist Team. The Conversation Gallery offers a space for people to sit, relax, chat and debate while explori ing artworks that link to broader ideas and global challenges. The Hive, located on the museum's first floor, serves as a reminder that everyone can collect and curate, inspired by the museum’s founders' thoughtful collecting in the nineteenth century.
The three accessible Collection Vaults house furniture, textiles and ceramic objects, allowing visitors to easily view and learn about objects during specialist guided tours. Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programmes and Collections at The Bowes Museum, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have the 'Curiosity Project' nominated for Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museum and Heritage Awards. Refitting our Curiosity Galleries introduced conversation, creativity and curiosity as key pillars within our museum’s transformation and this national recognition is a testament to the incredible ideas, hard work, enthusiasm and commitment our team and the communities that co-produced it with us put in. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a win but look forward to celebrating with all the nominees in May. Watch this space too as our next co-produced gallery projects are already underway and will be open to the public in April 2026. It’s all go at The Bowes!” The museum is shortlisted alongside permanent exhibitions at Beckford’s Tower (Bath Preservation Trust Museum), Showtown Blackpool (with Casson Mann), M Shed, Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, and Museum of the Home. The winners will be announced at a live award ceremony on 15 May in London.