Craven Museum, located in the Grade II-listed Skipton Town Hall, has recently been honored as one of the five finalists for the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024 after being shortlisted a little while ago. This recognition comes with a reward of £15,000, highlighting the museum’s exceptional contributions to culture and community.
The accolade was announced at the National Gallery in London, where broadcaster Vick Hope, a judge for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024, presented the overall winner prize of £120,000 to Young V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Dedication and Community Impact
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, arts, and housing, Councillor Simon Myers, expressed immense pride in Craven Museum’s achievement. He emphasized that this prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the museum’s team.
Myers noted that being shortlisted alongside larger institutions underscores the importance of cultural spaces like Craven Museum in enriching the lives of the community.
Danielle Daglan, the head of culture and archives for North Yorkshire Council, shared her gratitude for being selected as finalists. She highlighted the museum’s journey to national recognition and thanked the Art Fund team, the supportive community, and North Yorkshire Council for their unwavering support. Daglan hopes that Craven Museum’s success inspires other small museums to aim high and encourages communities across the UK to support their local museums.
A Hub of Cultural Enrichment
Craven Museum’s location in Skipton Town Hall adds to its charm and functionality as a modern multi-arts cultural hub. The venue features an exhibition gallery, a historic concert hall, and education and community spaces, all designed to enrich and expand the cultural experiences on offer.
This comprehensive setup has earned the museum notable accolades, including the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum 2023 and Best Accessible Museum 2023.
Achievements and Activities
In recognition of the current cost of living crisis, Craven Museum has been proactive in making cultural experiences accessible. During the 2023 school holidays, the museum programmed free or low-cost activities and events every day for families. This initiative reflects the museum’s commitment to community engagement and support.
The museum’s exhibition gallery has been a vibrant space for artists and community groups. Between 2022 and 2023, 115 artists displayed their work in the gallery, and eight community groups created displays in the community cases. The museum also saw a significant increase in visitors, welcoming 156,391 guests in the 2022 to 2023 period, which is about 56,000 more than the previous year.
The Art Fund Museum of the Year Award
The Art Fund Museum of the Year is an annual award that celebrates outstanding museums in the UK. For the 2024 edition, the award recognized inspiring projects from autumn 2022 through to winter 2023, with a particular focus on community engagement, sustainable ways of working, and redefining what it means to be an exemplary museum for today’s and tomorrow’s audiences.
Craven Museum was one of five finalists, which included Dundee Contemporary Arts in Dundee, Manchester Museum, National Portrait Gallery in London, and the winner Young V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Each finalist received £15,000, while the winning museum took home £120,000. The total prize money for the Art Fund Museum of the Year was increased to £180,000 in 2023 to mark 120 years of Art Fund supporting museums.
Judging and Recognition
The 2024 judging panel was chaired by Art Fund director Jenny Waldman and included notable figures such as Anupam Ganguli, the finance director for Historic Royal Palaces, broadcaster Vick Hope, artist Tania Kovats, and Sir John Leighton, a former Director-General for the National Galleries of Scotland. The judges visited each finalist museum to inform their decision-making process.
Jenny Waldman praised Young V&A, describing it as a truly inspirational museum created with the input of young co-designers who aimed to make it “the world’s most joyful museum.” Waldman extended her warm congratulations to the Young V&A team for their outstanding achievement.
What Next
With its finalist prize, Craven Museum plans to continue improving access to its collections and experiences, reinforcing its role as a vital cultural institution in North Yorkshire. The museum’s team, supported by North Yorkshire Council and the local community, looks forward to inspiring and engaging visitors for years to come.
The success of Craven Museum as a finalist in the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024 not only brings honor to the institution but also highlights the significance of small museums in fostering community spirit and cultural enrichment.
