The Brompton Cemetery Conservation Project won the coveted conservation award at the Museum + Heritage Awards 2018. Speak Up! The Hyde Park Debating Challenge was also shortlisted in the Education category.
A record breaking number of entries were submitted to the highly sought after Museum + Heritage Awards this year, making the national competition tougher than ever before.
The two projects entered by The Royal Parks were shortlisted alongside Royal Museums Greenwich, the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, UCL Museums and Collections, Leeds Museum and Galleries, and Yorkshire Sculpture Parks, among others.
Bernard Donoghue, one of the judges, said of this year’s applications “The entries were amazing; outstanding examples of clever, creative, provocative story-telling and partnerships with audiences”.
Brompton Cemetery Conservation Project
The Brompton Cemetery Conservation Project has brought a much-loved Victorian cemetery into the 21st Century, through bespoke conservation techniques, digital interpretation and a unique calendar of community events. The Grade 1 listed Cemetery, one of the magnificent seven Victorian cemeteries in London, is managed by The Royal Parks.
With a new visitor and research centre and a magnificent restored Victorian chapel now open to the public, Brompton Cemetery has been transformed into an uplifting and engaging space, bringing heritage to the fore through events, exhibitions, presentations and education opportunities.
The £6.2 million restoration project received a £4.5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery and BIG Lottery, with the remaining £1.7 million raised through The Royal Parks and generous funders.
This quite incredible project was the worthy winner in the ‘Restoration or Conservation’ category winner. The win champions the commitment of everyone involved in the widest range of outcomes for the project, making this one of the most exciting and interesting places for everyone to visit in the capital.
Nigel Thorne, Project Manager, Brompton Cemetery Conservation Project, The Royal Parks, said “The Brompton Cemetery Conservation Project delivery team believe this has been one of the most challenging but rewarding projects to have been involved with – leaving a legacy on a self-sustaining project for future generations to come and definitely a deserved and worthy winner of this national award.”
Speak Up! The Hyde Park Debating Challenge
Speak Up! TheHyde Park Debating Challenge engaged hundreds of secondary students from seven London schools in the first debating programme inspired by Speakers’ Corner. Young people developed and practiced their reasoning and presentation skills inspired by the rich history of this pivotal landmark in Hyde Park.
In partnership with Debate Mate and generously supported by Almacantar, the project launched in April 2017 with hands on heritage activities, followed by dozens of workshops, and culminated in a powerful and energetic summer celebration event at Speakers’ Corner. The day saw hundreds of students preparing their motions and debating on topics chosen by them and their peers, surrounded by their families and the public.
“Speak Up! gave young people the skills and support they needed to voice their ideas with passion and conviction. And no better place to do it than at Speakers’ Corner, a living reminder of our right to speak freely and be heard” said Ledy Leyssen, Head of Learning, The Royal Parks.
The project is part of The Royal Parks’ Learning Programme, offering hundreds of exciting events to explore and discover the Parks’ unique landscapes, heritage and wellbeing in the heart of London. Speak Up! was shortlisted alongside Leeds Museums and Galleries, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, UCL Museum and Collections, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and Chiltern Open Air Museum.
To learn more about these two unique projects and the awards go to:
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/brompton-cemetery
http://awards.museumsandheritage.com/awards-2018/