Hertfordshire Association of Museum Awards 2024
The Hertfordshire Museum awards took place in Ware Priory on the 15th February. Over 50 people attended the event.
Following a public vote, an unusual love token handcrafted, using hooves and horns, from Watford Museum, was named Hertfordshire’s Museum Object of the Year 2024. The trinket was made by a local cobbler William Longland, for his wife, Bessie and was inscribed with their initials in beads on velvet.
Runners-up included Frogmore Paper Mill’s Burnt Beam, recovered after a recent fire and a Southern Elephant Seal nominated by the Natural History Museum at Tring.
Over 2,300 people voted for their object of the year from a choice of twenty artefacts nominated by museums across Hertfordshire. A wide and eclectic range of objects were put forward for the public vote. Two of the oldest objects were a 14th century Seal Matrix, lost by its owner over 600 years ago, from Bishop’s Stortford Museum and a bowl fragment, dating from Roman times, inscribed “Sabina” from St Albans Museum and Gallery.
Other award winners were:
Creative Health Award: Elstree & Borehamwood Museum - Recollections Through Art. A project to combat isolation through exploration of local history and art.
Engagement Award: Garden City Collection (Letchworth Garden City): Forging A Family – Caribbean Harmony in Letchworth Garden City. Development and presentation of a co curated exhibition with Letchworth Caribbean Harmony Group.
Innovation Award: British Schools Museum – Play Café @ The Museum. New café space with dedicated play area and free activities for preschoolers.
Heritage Hero Awards were presented to volunteers from museums across the county to recognise the wonderful work they have done supporting museums and communities.
Hertfordshire Association of Museums are grateful to the judges who kindly gave up their time to review and score the Creative Health, Engagement and Innovation Awards.
- Elise Naish - Head of Heritage & Collections at The Culture Trust, Luton
- Hannah Bentley - Collection Manager, The South Asia Collection Museum
- Jenny Oxley - Museum Manager, Saffron Walden Museum
- Luke Clark. Assistant Exhibitions Manager at the Tank Museum, Bournemouth
- Sarah Sinka- Museums Development Officer, Essex