Torquay Museum have been shortlisted for the Family Friendly Museum of the Year award organised by Kids in Museums Charity.
An amazing achievement for the museum and for Torbay as a whole.
We caught up with Torquay Museum in an interview to find out more about the award, the museum and how the museum is embracing technology
Torquay Museum
Torquay Museum is home to a range of exhibitions it is also located in a  UNESCO Global GeoPark.
The Museum is one of the only museums in Devon to have a mummy.
Recently the museum celebrated the GeoPark Festival.
The Museum is also home to the KC4 Jaw Bone, thought to be the youngest Jaw Bone in the UK.
Nominated by Families
Torquay Museum was able to be shortlisted for the award following nominations from families and children.
Nominations for the museum were received from both local and also families that were on holiday in Torbay.
A full list of the museums shortlisted  can be seen here.
Nominations took place online and people were able to send in votes via post to the Kids in Museums charity.
Museum is Thrilled & Honoured
Gaining a nomination for this kind of award is by no means an easy job.
The number of museums across the UK totals approximately 2,500 so to be shortlisted is a great honour.
With such a diverse, high quality and family friendly array of exhibitions that are geared towards children it is clear, at least to BoostTorbay, why Torquay Museum was shortlisted
Footfall Increase
A lot of the museums mentioned on the shortlist have also benefited from an increase in footfall.
In Torquay that trend has continued as footfall has increased as have peoples comments and general interest in the museum.
If Torquay Museum is successful, and here at BoostTorbay we have no doubt that they will be, it will raise the profile both locally and also nationally.
Undercover judges
Of course to make the process of attaining the award a little more interesting, undercover judges will be heading to the museum.
Whilst they are there they can expect a really warm and inviting welcome and a range of hands on activities.
Along side this they will also get their hands on an explorer bag which is crammed with goodies and things to take home.
For families with children who are on the Autism Spectrum a Sensory Bag will certainly help stimulate and awaken the senses around the museum.
The judges can also expect a plethora of gallery trails and the adaptation of VR (Virtual Reality) on some displays.
Interactive Displays
For some children, a museum might sound a bit dull, but hold your iPads right there.
Torquay Museum have taken technology and had adopted it into the displays in the museum, we were fortunate to be given a brief tour.
This makes for an exciting learning and interactive experience along with a brand new take on a visit to your local museum.
From a sit along slide to a Time Ark Tunnel showcasing rocks and fossils from prehistoric times to an interactive table.
Affordable for Schools
For schools there is plenty for you to see and do from taking in the history of Torquay, all the way through to getting involved in a range of workshops.
These workshops can include Role Play, Explorers Workshop and Stone Age Pals.
So if you’ve not yet sorted your activities week out, give the Museum a call.
Get set for six weeks of fun
With six weeks holidays fast approaching, you could say we’re being a little premature.
However, we wanted to know what events were taking place over the holiday’s that would get kids off consoles and into museums.
We can highly recommend you take a look at the Lego Exhibition.
Whether you were born in 1960 or 2000 the exhibition is out of this world with a diverse range of models and scenarios. Â Plus you get to make your own.
July 28th at the Museum there is a family event featuring an arts workshop which includes creating birds out of willow, paper or clay.
The Art Exhibition will then go on display out the front of the Torquay Museum.
Friday’s see story telling times, and we learned something here, a few are linked to some of the collections in the museum, but you will also get to hear the story of the Egyption Cinderella and other traditional stories from around the world.
Who knew there was such a story?
Gallery tours are also operating throughout the holiday season
Torquay Museum is also an arts awards centre.
Tickets
If you have not yet visited the museum, and we’re counting ourselves in with that as well.
This weekend, get yourselves a ticket, spend the time to get into the spirit of Torbay from prehistoric through to modern era.
Torquay Museum Tickets costs just £18.90 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children or £12.90 for 1 Adult and 2 children.
