Announced: Winners of the Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards
Hosted by vibrant radio broadcaster Jacinta Parsons and featuring a Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin and warm words from Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks, the winners of the 2023 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards were announced on Tuesday at a gala ceremony - the sector's night of nights - held at ACMI.
This year marks the first time Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AMaGA Victoria) and Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV) have partnered to deliver the Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards. Now celebrating their 30th year, the Awards recognise and celebrate excellence across the sector. They seek to reward presenting and collecting organisations and the individuals who support and strengthen Victoria’s creative and cultural industries through outstanding work and a commitment to best practice.
Volunteer of the Year Award
WINNER: Tammy Nguyen, Vietnamese Museum Australia
Martin Hallett Award for Community Engagement
WINNER: Sherene Hassan, Islamic Museum of Australia
Change-maker of the Year Award
WINNER: Rose Hiscock, The University of Melbourne
Roslyn Lawry Award (Deakin University)
WINNER: Meghan Grech, Deakin University
Volunteer-run Project of the Year
WINNER: Queenscliffe Historical Society for their exhibition Queenscliffe Revealed: Hidden Histories, New Narratives
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Women’s Art Register for their publication Leaving Your Legacy: A Guide for Australian Artists
Small Project of the Year (Museum)
WINNER: Yarra Ranges Regional Museum for their exhibition Hard Place/Good Place: Yarra Ranges
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Shrine of Remembrance for their exhibition Defending with Pride
Small Project of the Year (Gallery)
WINNER: RMIT Culture for Radical Utopia, The Design Archaeology of a Creative City
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hamilton Gallery for their exhibition Luminous: John Orval, Stained Glass Artist
Medium Project of the Year (Museum)
WINNER: Museums Victoria for their exhibition More Than a Tarrang (tree): Memory, Material, Cultural Agency
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bonegilla Migrant Experience for their exhibition The Bonegilla ID Cards
Medium Project of the Year (Gallery)
WINNER: Art Gallery of Ballarat for their exhibition Beating About The Bush: A new lens on Australian Impressionism
HIGHLY COMMENDED: TarraWarra Museum of Art for their exhibition TarraWarra Biennial 2023: ua usiusi fa'ava'asavili, curated by Dr Leuli Eshragi.
Large Project of the Year
WINNER: Museums Victoria for their exhibition Tyama: A deeper sense of knowing
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Central Goldfields Art Gallery for the Gallery Redevelopment Project
First Nations Project of the Year
WINNER: Daylesford and District Historical Society with Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson for their exhibition Coranderrk Portraits
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bundoora Homestead Art Centre for their Truth-telling Permanent History Display
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place for the Repatriation of Gunai Kurnai GRI (canoe) project
REACCREDITATIONS
Community Museum Accreditation Program
Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society
Knox Historical Society
Nepean Historical Society
National Alpine Museum
Museum Accreditation Program
Beechworth Burke Museum
Burrinja Dandenong Ranges Cultural Centre
Coal Creek Community Park and Museum
National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
Como House and Garden
Old Melbourne Gaol
Polly Woodside
Rippon Lea Estate
The Dax Centre
Congratulations to all Awards and Reccreditation recipients, to all Highly Commended organisations, and thank you to all our fantastic nominees. The outstanding quality of the nominations received testifies to the extraordinary vitality of the Victorian museum and gallery sector.