2009 IMAGinE awards winners!

Representatives of galleries and museums from metropolitan and regional NSW and the ACT gathered at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on Saturday night (17 October 2009) for the presentation of the 2009 IMAGinE awards. Celebrity host Peter Berner added an element of humour to the cocktail event which saw over 100 arts volunteers and professionals from across the state come together to acknowledge their peers.

Now in their second year, the IMAGinE awards celebrate the achievements of both the professional and volunteer-run museums and galleries in NSW and the ACT and those who work within them. This year saw 64 nominations across five categories including collection management, exhibitions and education, as well as awards for excellence for both organisations and individuals. Winners included:

Category 1 – Organisation Awards for Collection Management

· Richmond River Historical Society - Volunteer organisation
· AlburyCity Cultural Services - More than six paid staff

Category 2 – Organisation Awards for Exhibitions

· Berrima District Museum - Volunteer organisation
· Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Community and Cultural Development - Less than six paid staff
· Parramatta Heritage Centre - More than six paid staff
· Australian Museum - Highly Commended - More than six paid staff

Category 3 – Organisation Awards for Education and Public Engagement

· Walgett Historical Society - Volunteer organisation
· Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery - Less than six paid staff
· Western Plains Cultural Centre - More than six paid staff

Category 4 – Organisation Awards for Excellence

· Richmond River Historical Society - Volunteer organisation
· Grenfell Art Gallery - Highly Commended - Volunteer organisation
· The Cavalcade of History and Fashion - Highly Commended - Volunteer organisation
· Manning Regional Art Gallery - Less than six paid staff
· Campbelltown Arts Centre – Joint Winner - More than six paid staff
· Parramatta Heritage Centre – Joint Winner - More than six paid staff

Category 5 – Individual Awards for Excellence

· Kent Mayo, Volunteer, McCrossin’s Mill Precinct - Volunteer Award (pictured with Maisy Stapleton, CEO, Museums & Galleries NSW)
· Thelma Scanes, Volunteer, Old Government House, Parramatta, National Trust (NSW) - Volunteer Award
· Joan Kelly, Regional Arts Development Officer, Arts Northern Rivers - Professional Award

Check M&G NSW’s website below for the full media release and images of winners.

The awards are an initiative of Museums & Galleries NSW, Museums Australia (NSW & ACT), and Regional & Public Galleries NSW. The IMAGinE awards committee gratefully acknowledges the awards sponsors: macforbes wines, Mental Media and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Further information: http://mgnsw.org.au/news/2009_imagine_awards_winners/