Staff from Kiplin Hall & Gardens are celebrating after bringing home two awards from the the so-called ‘Oscars of the museum world’.
Previous winners of the The Museums + Heritage Awards included Sir David Attenborough alongside hundreds of individuals and organisations from across the cultural sector.
Kiplin came home with ‘highly commended’ for museum café of the year and was the joint winner for marketing campaign of the year.
Shortlisted among giants of the heritage sector including Imperial War Museum and Stonehenge, the win marks a huge achievement for Kiplin which is going through a phase of development and growth, fueled in part by its growing popularity with visitors post-covid.
The ceremony itself took place last week in a ballroom near Trafalgar Square, hosted by Iszi Lawrence, a historical fiction author, presenter, comedian, and podcaster.
Anna Preedy, director of the annual Museums + Heritage Awards, said: “The awards have become the gold standard in the sector and the recognition that winners receive is a key motivator for staff and volunteers alike, boosting confidence by having their work promoted on a global scale.”
Samantha Jennings, marketing officer for Kiplin, spoke of her shock and delight when receiving the award on stage.
“I suddenly feel like a very small fish in a very big pond! Considering that it is my job to talk, I feel lost for words, but I know there are two groups of people I must thank.
“Firstly, the volunteers, staff and trustees at Kiplin Hall.
“Without their hard work I would have nothing to talk about. And secondly the local press who have helped us to promote Kiplin in our communities.”
Kiplin’s 2021 marketing campaign aimed to go local; attracting first time and repeat visits from residents living in the surrounding towns and villages.
The concept of a ‘destination on the doorstep’ gained popularity as people stayed local while lockdown restrictions eased. Kiplin reported record breaking visitor figures in 2021, welcoming just over 30,000 visitors, a 65% increase on their previous best.
Kiplin Hall and Gardens is an independent museum reliant on ticket income.
Find out more about Kiplin Hall and Gardens at www.kiplinhall.co.uk
