Web workshop scoops award for Sheffield gaming museum

The museum was one of five museums awarded top prizes in an online awards ceremony hosted by TV personalities, Philip Mould and Professor Kate Williams.

Charity Kids in Museums has held its annual Family Friendly Museum Award for the past 15 years, recognising the most family friendly museums and heritage sites in the UK. This year the charity created a special award to celebrate the extraordinary effort museums made to adapt to lockdown and support families. They asked families and museums to share their favourite lockdown activities – whether it was a film, quiz, game, craft or something else.

Over 400 nominations for the award were sent in from all over the world. In July, an expert panel whittled down these nominations to a shortlist of 26 museums. Over the summer, families tested out the activities and their feedback, along with an expert panel, decided the winners of each category.

The National Videogame Museum won the Best Website Activity award for its Create a Pixel Art Character activity. This workshop, which was live streamed on YouTube and comes with downloadable worksheets, was created in early April in response to the UK national lockdown. Hundreds of young people took part and the programme soon expanded into a weekly series of videogame activities.

Leah Dungay, Learning Officer at the NVM, said: “To even be nominated for this award, as such a young and new museum, was a real honour. That we were able to win is absolutely amazing. It was so lovely seeing young people all across Sheffield and further afield engage with our livestreams, and show us their creations.”

Philip Mould, art dealer, broadcaster and Kids in Museums President, said: “It is a pleasure to celebrate how museums and heritage sites have sprung into action and brought culture to families during this challenging time. What all our winners have in common is that they have managed to bring the best of museums to families at home. These projects not only helped them with home schooling, but also supported their wellbeing and helped them have fun together.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.