2024 Awards: Winners Announced
Hosted by Australian comedian, composer, and broadcaster Sammy J, winners of the 2024 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards were announced at a gala ceremony held on Tuesday 1 October at Science Gallery Melbourne – where art and science collide. AMaGA Victoria and PGAV are thrilled to reveal the winning and highly commended projects of 2024! We warmly congratulate the dedicated organisations and collaborators behind these outstanding projects, as well as the individuals who exemplify the best of our sector. Your creativity and hard work have truly shone through this year — here’s to celebrating your remarkable achievements!
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WINNER: Peter Ball | Bendigo Military Museum
Peter’s 28 years of volunteer service has been instrumental in transforming the Bendigo Soldiers Memorial Institute into a state-of-the-art facility. His leadership secured $5.1 million in funding, oversaw a meticulous cataloguing project of over 7,700 items, and spearheaded the museum’s redevelopment and restoration. Peter’s dedication to the museum’s success in making history accessible is something to be admired.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jim Barton | Australian Gliding Museum
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WINNER: Neville Quick | Museums Victoria
Nev has dedicated over 25 years at Museums Victoria to creating and maintaining world-class storage solutions. His impact is felt by institutions across the sector, characterised by innovation, generosity, and a deep understanding of museum needs to allow for proper care and access to collections.
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WINNER: Laura Miles |Victoria Police Museum
Laura is highly respected across the Victorian museum sector and beyond for her unwavering commitment to improving advocacy, advancing museum practice, and fostering positive change. Under her exemplary leadership, Victoria Police Museum has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a well-respected and impactful institution that sets the standard for others.
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WINNER: Linda Sproul
Linda’s commitment to the sector is outstanding. Over the past three decades, she has led new thinking and frameworks for the evolution of the sector and has been exceptionally adaptive to its changing needs. Her work in interdisciplinary collaboration, audience-centred design, and the creation of multi-sensory experiences has clearly helped to shape modern Australian museums as inclusive, democratic spaces.
WINNER: dr megan evans
megan's remarkable 40-year career exemplifies her dedication to harnessing collaboration to drive social justice and equity through the arts. Her commitment to community-informed curatorship and her unwavering support for the voices of First Peoples, artists of colour and women have had a profound and lasting impact across Victoria’s public gallery sector. Long before it became industry best practice, megan championed the importance of lived experience in the arts. Recently, at Wyndham Art Gallery, she introduced a guest curator program for both emerging and established curators, fostering greater cultural agency in curatorial practice. By reshaping the narratives of who is represented, who works, and who visits our galleries, megan has undeniably transformed the landscape of our art institutions.
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WINNER: Kate Harding | Deakin University
Kate was recognised for excellence for her work and show of dedication within Deakin University's Cultural Heritage and Museums Studies Program.
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WINNER: Ballarat Tramway Museum | Creating a Contemporary and Accessible Tramway Museum
This project skilfully used innovative technology to engage all age groups, transforming visitor experiences and making Ballarat's history more accessible. It quadrupled visitation and extended visits from under 20 minutes to 2-3 hours. The integration of tech greatly increased access to the museum’s collections, demonstrating clear innovation and significantly boosting community engagement.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Robin Boyd Foundation | Robin Boyd & Japan
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WINNER: RMIT Culture / RMIT University | RMIT Artothek
Arthotek has made high-quality art accessible to RMIT students, literally bringing art into their homes. By fostering deep engagement with art and supporting student wellbeing, the program has opened up new opportunities for collections staff and demonstrated a groundbreaking approach to risk management, all while enhancing community engagement and making art more accessible. The program's thoughtful design and strong impact have redefined how cultural assets are shared and appreciated within the university.
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WINNER: Burrinja Cultural Centre x Bogong Centre for Sound Culture | Between Two Sites
This creative project, executed on a very small budget, showcased a strong collaboration between an Artist Run Initiative and a public gallery. The partnership was particularly commendable for its initiatives aimed at low vision and vision-impaired audiences. The project effectively used both onsite and online platforms, creating a meaningful dialogue between two geographic areas and their environments. The impact on gallery practice was significant, highlighting what can be achieved with modest resources.
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WINNER: National Wool Museum | We the Makers
This is a visually striking exhibition that innovatively explores sustainable fashion design. It successfully engages professionals, emerging creatives, and the community through workshops and educational collaborations. By addressing contemporary societal issues and incorporating best practices in sustainability, the project fosters local participation and inspires future designers. Its ongoing impact highlights the museum's role in supporting the community to shape its heritage with a global perspective and local action.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Golden Dragon Museum | Collection Redevelopment Project
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WINNER: The University of Melbourne | Nightshifts at Buxton Contemporary
The University of Melbourne's innovative approach in this project successfully engaged the student community, resulting in strong attendance. By bridging disciplines, generations, and cultural backgrounds, the program fostered international connections and utilised multiple platforms, including take-home audio files. It demonstrated great innovation by effectively using the existing collection and introducing new commissions.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: TarraWarra Museum of Art | The Soils Project
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Warrnambool Art Gallery | LISA GORMAN + MIRKA MORA: To breathe with the rhythm of the heart
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WINNER: Melbourne Holocaust Museum | Hidden: Seven Children Saved
The exhibition offers a beautifully designed, compelling experience for ages 10 and up. Through innovative storytelling and immersive elements, it creates a meaningful, interactive journey. By blending truth-telling with moral lessons, it connects historical narratives with contemporary learning, inspiring empathy and behavioural change. The exhibition effectively engages visitors with Holocaust survivors' stories, making it especially relevant and impactful for younger audiences. Its success is reflected in the positive feedback from students and teachers, showcasing it as a best practice for ageappropriate, emotionally engaging museum experiences.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: State Library Victoria | Mirror: New Views on Photography
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WINNER: Australian Centre for Contemporary Art | Between Waves
This project was the standout among the entries, with ACCA’s exceptional community engagement and curator Jessica Clark's success in incorporating diverse voices making a strong impression. The exhibition felt incredibly contemporary and had a profound impact, with some of the best work produced by the artists who pushed their practices to exciting new heights. The program's holistic approach and ambitious scope highlight ACCA's success in embedding meaningful engagement within First Peoples' spaces, demonstrating a truly significant achievement.
