AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING GALLERY AND MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS AND STAFF

Queensland’s leading museums and galleries and their outstanding workers have been named winners of this year’s annual Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards (GAMAA).

Arts Minister, Rod Welford, presented awards and special commendations to 11 organisations and individuals at a ceremony at Queensland Museum South Bank this evening.

“The awards celebrate exceptional staff and volunteers in the museum and gallery industry as well as outstanding museum and gallery projects and exhibitions,” Mr Welford said.

“These projects range from Nambour Historical Museum’s photographic exhibition of early gardens to Cobb and Co. Museum’s exhibition, ‘Kids’ Time – a century of learning through play’.”

The awards were open for the first time to all Queensland museums, galleries, historical societies and the people who work in them.

Previously, nominated organisations needed to be members of Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ), Queensland’s peak industry body for the gallery and museum sector.

Mr Welford commended the work of M&GSQ, which runs the annual awards, and provides training and professional development to museums and galleries staff and coordinates touring exhibitions.

“There are approximately 400 museums and galleries in Queensland, from the large flagship institutions to the smaller, volunteer-run organisations,” he said.

“These organisations employ more than 1000 paid staff and benefit from the assistance of more than 7000 dedicated volunteers.”

Mr Welford congratulated the winning organisations and staff, as well as the industry’s volunteers.

“Community museums and galleries are ensuring our local history and heritage is preserved for future generations,” he said. “Last year, more than 1.5 million people visited Queensland’s regional galleries and visual arts centres.”

Mr Welford also presented Recognition of Prior Learning Awards to the first 11 graduates of a pilot program that recognises existing skills in paid and unpaid museum and gallery work, helping these important workers to gain Certificates III and IV in Museum Practice.

A list of Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards winners follows.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 32371000 or 0419 734 985

2006 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards winners

Organisations – Staff of 7 or more
Winner
Queensland Museum South Bank
Dandiiri Maiwar: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures Centre

Special Commendation
The Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich
60^th Anniversary of VP Day Celebrations

Organisations – Staff of 1 to 6
Winner
Bundaberg Arts Centre
Fully Sick!!! Youth Public Art Project

Organisations – Volunteer Run
Winner
Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Inc.
The Ration Shed Museum and Precinct

Special Commendation
Central Queensland Military and Artifact Museum, Rockhampton
Outreach Trailer Project

Individual Award - Paid Staff Member
Joint Winners
Pamela Whitlock, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum
Lisa Jones, Queensland Police Museum

Individual Award – Volunteer Staff member
Winner
Paulette Baxter, Theodore and District Historical Society
(Dawson Folk Museum)

QTCU Educational Initiative
Winner
Cobb and Co. Museum, Toowoomba
Kids Time – a century of learning through play exhibition

Special Commendation
Queensland Museum, Regional Services Program, South Bank
Couran Cove Environmental Loan Kits

Special Commendation
Nambour & District Historical Museum
Early Gardens Photographic Exhibition

Recognition of Prior Learning Awards
Anne Beetson, Thargomindah
Shannan Bilicki, Ipswich
Anne Donohue, Townsville
Joan Hubbard, Chinchilla
Tye Jeffrey, Townsville
Robert McGuigan, FortitudeValley
Anne Oakes, Nebo near Mackay
Christine Spence, Bundaberg
Maria Thoumine, Kingaroy
Karen Tyler, Pine Rivers
Ann Williams-Fitzgerald, Mackay