Discovery Museum shortlisted for national award following work on green energy exhibition
Newcastle’s Discovery Museum has been shortlisted in the national Museums and Heritage Awards – dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the cultural sector.
The Blandford Square site has been shortlisted in the Partnership of the Year category for its exhibition Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution.
Created in partnership with Newcastle University, and sponsor Vattenfall, the museum worked with multiple partners across the green energy and travel sector in the North East to create the two-year exhibition and events programme charting the story of energy in the North East.
A total of 19 businesses from across the region contributed their green technology stories and donated objects for display, including a cutaway electric car, subsea cables, solar panels, a virtual reality wind farm tour and a heat source pump including Nexus, who operate the Tyne and Wear Metro, Nissan and Lumo trains, who recently set up their offices in Newcastle.
The Museums and Heritage Awards ceremony will take place at Hilton London on Thursday, May 15.
Keith Merrin, Director of North East Museums, which manages Discovery Museum, said: “It’s a testament to the number and calibre of the partners involved in the Steam to Green project that Discovery Museum has been recognised at a national level.
“The North East has a reputation for innovation and the unique way we’ve created the Steam to Green programme reflects that. We are thrilled to be able to share our region’s work on a national stage.”
Steam to Green features an exhibition and events programme for adults and families, and careers fairs and school workshops and remains ongoing in the city centre museum. New content for the exhibition this summer will include a display highlighting Newcastle Airport’s 90th anniversary.
Professor Colin Herron CBE from Newcastle University added:“The North East of England is leading the transition to electrification from power generation. Newcastle University has a key role in ensuring that the transition is enabled with people who are suitably qualified.
“To do this, we need to inspire and educate the next generation of engineers and scientists. It is important that the parents of the children who will be pursuing careers understand the technology, and the scale of activity in a neutral environment.
“Steam to Green has provided a window into this technology, which even in its early stages has seen thousands of the public and importantly children attending. It has been a pleasure working with the Discovery Museum.”
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