WA Museum Boola Bardip recognised at national awards

WA Museum Boola Bardip topped three categories at the Museums and Galleries National Awards last night in Canberra, including gallery fit out. 

The $400 million state government-funded project, which opened to the public late last year, won awards for gallery fit out; interpretation, learning and audience engagement; and a research project.

The award for fit out was won for the museum's eight new permanent galleries.

It was awarded the prize for audience engagement for its six-year, state-wide engagement program which saw more than 54,000 people from across WA provide their thoughts and ideas about the stories and programs in the new museum.

The research project ‘Sharing Stories’ was also recognised. The project was a collaboration between the museum, the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees, eight Western Australians with refugee experience and two independent content creators, and involved creating eight short films which explored what it meant to be a refugee in the state.

Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman said the awards recognised the outstanding achievement of the new museum.

“Designed with a ‘people first’ approach, it is a museum of and for the people of Western Australia, and is a centre of cultural excellence that positions Perth and this great state as a premier cultural tourism destination,” Mr Templeman.

Meanwhile, WA Museum Boola Bardip chief executive Alec Coles was also named 2021 Arts & Culture Western Australian of the Year last Friday night.

Mr Coles has led the organisation for the past 11 years, including during the development of the museum’s new premises.

Since it opened in November, 480,00 people have visited the museum.

WA Museum Boola Bardip is opening a new exhibition, Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes, on June 20 which explores Ancient Greek culture and life through competition, sport, politics, drama, music and warfare.