Devon museum gains international accolade
PLYMOUTH’S museum, art gallery and archive has been recognised in this year’s European Museum of the Year Awards, becoming the only UK museum to win an accolade from the judges.
The EMYA awards, which this year took place in Tartu, Estonia, are touted as longest-running and most prestigious of their type in Europe.
Organisers say the awards recognise excellence in the European museum scene and provides an important platform for benchmarking, networking, experience and skills in venues across the continent. A total of 60 museums were nominated this year Plymouth’s The Box was one of just 12 successful entries. It was also the only UK museum to win an award.
Overall awards were presented to museums based in The Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Spain and Denmark at a special ceremony hosted both online and at the National Museum of Estonia in Tartu on Saturday evening. The jury then awarded ‘Special Commendations’ to The Box and six other museums in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.
The overarching theme for 2022 was how museums can address the local and global issues that impact their communities. The ‘Special Commendations’ were awarded to organisations that were deemed to have developed new and innovative approaches in their public service and which others can learn from.
The EMYA jury described The Box as “a remarkable regional museum with strong ambitions for its cultural, educational and social effects. With outstanding exhibitions and easy access for all, it has created a new cultural asset for its city and region and is an active advocate for the social change it can bring to its communities”.
The jury gave praise to the design and presentation of its galleries and the way in which it has brought important collections from across the city together. It also highlighted the ‘Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy’ exhibition, which was on display when the judges visited, and the way it challenged historic narratives about the Mayflower story.
Victoria Pomery, chief executive at The Box, said: “This award is a huge validation of the significant investment in the project by Plymouth City Council, Arts Council England and
National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Box is an ambitious new institution and this award is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of so many individuals, including The Box team.”
The Box is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays, and is free with no need to book. Galleries showcase local, maritime, natural and human history, as well as art, archives, photography and film. Current exhibitions at the venue feature craft, sculpture, contemporary art, fashion and textiles. Later this year, it will be one of the host venues for the nationally touring ‘British Art Show 9’.
It comes as the Mayflower Museum, located in the same building as Plymouth’s Tourist Information Centre on the Barbican, is having a refresh ahead of the busy summer season thanks to The Box. The ‘Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy’ exhibition, which was displayed at The Box from September 2020 to January this year as part of the commemorations for the momentous 400th anniversary of the ship’s voyage across the Atlantic, will now live on inside the Mayflower Museum.
Elements of the exhibition will be incorporated into the existing displays at the Mayflower Museum, which explores the story of the historic journey that took place from Plymouth to America in 1620. All three floors of the museum will be used to tell the story of the passengers as well as the Wampanoag People, ensuring that the story of the Native Americans who met them and helped ensure their survival is represented. The changes will increase the size of the existing Mayflower Museum exhibition by around a third.
There will be lots for the whole family to enjoy inside the refreshed spaces, including interactive exhibits, films and a children’s trail to follow. The third floor also boasts fantastic views over Plymouth’s historic harbour and the Mayflower Steps monument, which marks the approximate spot where the ship left more than 400 years ago.
Victoria added: “We’re delighted that all the hard work that went into the development of this major exhibition at The Box will now have its own legacy at the Mayflower Museum. The Mayflower story is an inherent part of our city’s history. This refresh will mean that local, national and international visitors to Plymouth can continue to engage with it in its new home on the waterfront.”