2019 MAGNA Awards Announced
Organised by Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA), and sponsored by Panasonic, the Museums and Galleries National Awards (MAGNA) celebrate outstanding achievement in the sector in the areas of exhibitions, public programs, Indigenous projects, and research. The 2019 MAGNAs were announced at an awards ceremony held in Alice Springs tonight as part of the AMaGA National Conference.
The celebrated projects and programs below are an outstanding representation of the kind of work museums and galleries are performing. The diversity, innovation and community focus that is at the heart of all of the below winners is testament to the importance of museums and galleries in the community for the purposes of education, entertainment and life-long learning for all Australians in addition to the traditional mission of collecting organisations of preserving, conserving and communicating Australia’s art and cultural heritage.
One key aspect common across most of the winners is extensive collaboration and co-curation, both within and outside of the museums and galleries sector, including other arts organisations such as theatre, dance, and music, and segments of their local and wider communities. By combining the skills prevalent in our museums and galleries with the knowledge and input of the communities, our cultural organisations are creating and presenting the most inclusive, accessible, educational and engaging programs ever.
In addition to the commended and winning entries, two overall national winners were selected. The national winners represent opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of project budget, location and opportunities – but were similar in exploring and delivering new forms of engagement. One key message is that money is not the critical factor in award-winning museum/gallery projects.
The National Winners were Museum of the Riverina, for STEAM the Museum, and Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), for Wonderland.
ACMI has developed and delivered a rapturously-received, immersive exhibition on Alice in Wonderland that has attracted new audiences of different ages - it has had a huge impact in Victoria and nationally. One judge commented, “A wonderland of cross-disciplinary artworks and technological collaborations with backend data analytical tools for capturing learnings for future projects,“ and another said, “Great concept… Highly interactive and immersive – multiple ways to engage (depending on ability).” Judge #2
The Museum of the Riverina delivered a “participatory museum project that saw the Museum’s social history collections interpreted using tools and techniques drawn from the STEAM field”. The Museum partnered with a cohort of local school students to explore different approaches in researching, curating, designing, installing and advocating for a variety of exhibitions and museum experiences – with the students as leaders in the curatorial process. “The innovation was the student curators learning valuable STEM skills while applying them through a design thinking process to solve a social history problem”. The products were creative and engaging. Opportunities were also available to the public, through the many external collaborators. The judges commented, “This is an innovative and ambitious project for a relatively small museum. It focuses on important skills and seems very well designed and thought out,” and, “Brilliant… I can see the innovation and impact… I don’t think you could collaborate more than this project has!” and, “This is a project with an innovative and creative concept and with the principles of co-design, collaboration, community outreach and education at its heart.”
A list of winning entries is available below and more information at www.amaga.org.au/awards
Contact: Stephanie Hamilton stephanie.hamilton@amaga.org.au
2019 MAGNA Winners
Indigenous Project or Keeping Place | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | Myall Creek and beyond | New England Regional Art Museum (NSW) |
Interpretation, Learning & Audience Engagement | Level 1: Project budget less than $20,000 | STEAM the Museum | Museum of the Riverina (NSW) |
Interpretation, Learning & Audience Engagement | Level 2: Project budget $20,000 - $150,000 | REST at East Perth Cemeteries | National Trust of Western Australia (WA) |
Interpretation, Learning & Audience Engagement | Level 2: Project budget $20,000 - $150,000 | Bigger than Ben Hall | Orange Regional Museum (NSW) |
Interpretation, Learning & Audience Engagement | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | Life in Irons: Brisbane's Convict Stories | Museum of Brisbane (QLD) |
Interpretation, Learning & Audience Engagement | Level 4: Project budget more than $500,000 | The Sovereign Hill Costumed Schools Program | Sovereign Hill Museums Association (VIC) |
Permanent Exhibition or Gallery Fitout | Level 1: Project budget less than $20,000 | My Actions Count, My Voice Matters | Centre of Democracy (History Trust of South Australia) (SA) |
Permanent Exhibition or Gallery Fitout | Level 2: Project budget $20,000 - $150,000 | Game Engine: Digital Legends | National Motor Museum (SA) |
Permanent Exhibition or Gallery Fitout | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | State Timber Museum | Shire of Manjimup (WA) |
Permanent Exhibition or Gallery Fitout | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | Unruly Days: A Territory Life 1911-1921 | Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (NT) |
Permanent Exhibition or Gallery Fitout | Level 4: Project budget more than $500,000 | Megafauna Central | Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (NT) |
Research | Level 1: Project budget less than $20,000 | Contesting Space | John Curtin Gallery (WA) |
Research | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | Shipwrecks of the Roaring Forties: A Maritime Archaeological Reassessment of some of Australia's Earliest Shipwrecks | Western Australian Museum (WA) |
Temporary or Travelling Exhibition | Level 1: Project budget less than $20,000 | He kākano āhau (I am a seed) | Logan Art Gallery, Logan City Council (QLD) |
Temporary or Travelling Exhibition | Level 2: Project budget $20,000 - $150,000 | GADI | Australian Museum (NSW) |
Temporary or Travelling Exhibition | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | LOVE | Museums Victoria (VIC) |
Temporary or Travelling Exhibition | Level 3: Project budget $150,000 - $500,000 | The National Picture: the art of Tasmania's Black War | National Gallery of Australia (ACT) |
Temporary or Travelling Exhibition | Level 4: Project budget more than $500,000 | WONDERLAND | ACMI (VIC) |
