Chance to nominate Newark’s National Civil War Centre for Kids In Museums Award

A family-focused museum is appealing for votes, as it aims for the Kids in Museums awards shortlist for a second year running.

The National Civil War Centre is home to a range of family friendly galleries and activities — and last year, it was shortlisted in the Best Small Museum category of the Kids in Museums’ Family Friendly Museum Award.

The prestigious award recognises museums, galleries and heritage sites that provide a great experience for children, young people and families, and is the only museum award to be judged by families.

At the National Civil War Centre, on Appletongate, there’s lots of activities for children and young people, so the whole family can take a trip to the 17th Century.

Visitors can dress up in civil-war armour and costume for a family photo, hunt for mystery objects, or play the new gallery games, while Newark Museum has many exciting objects which are sure to stimulate children’s imaginations — from a Roman skeleton to a mammoth’s tooth.

From the moment they walk in, children can help themselves to a goodie bag and enjoy fun and games in every gallery, let their imaginations soar with the centre’s stories and collections — and there is even an HD cinema which brings history to life for the whole family.

The packed programme of family events at the museum includes Family Saturdays on the first Saturday of each month with crafts, special family trails and activities, and the Mini Museum toddler group, which fills the galleries with play on Thursday mornings.

This Saturday (May 4) is 'May the Fourth be with You', from 10am to 4pm, drawing parallels between the Civil War and Star Wars. Families can travel through time, if not space, in the civil war gallery for a look at seventeenth century weapons with the Civil War Centre’s learning officer as well as wield a lightsaber.

Then on June 1, Jitterbug June celebrates the 80th anniversary of D Day as guests are invited to look at 1940s objects in the galleries and decorate cakes for the victory tea party as they swing into the 1940s with dance sessions in the Tudor Hall.

In July, Family Saturday takes inspiration from the beautiful Dandelion Exhibition currently on display, celebrating the power of plants to support our wellbeing.

August celebrates Lord Byron and his daughter Ada Lovelace. Families can get stuck into ‘Marvellous Mathematical Museum’ including Family Five tours of the galleries with a maths and engineering theme and creative and mathematical activities in the learning space.

Newark’s civil war history spills out of the museum and onto the streets of the town — so visitors can also join Saturday tours which bring the town’s history to life. There’s a family friendly one on August 3, which introduces Newark Through Time.

The National Civil War Centre is now appealing for families to share their experiences of visiting the museum with Kids in Museums to support its application for the award in the best small museum category.

Rowan Cozens, portfolio holder for heritage, culture and the arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “We were delighted to be shortlisted as best Family Friendly Museum last year. This year our family friendly offer is even stronger.

“If you have enjoyed a visit with your family, we would be grateful if you could send your experience to Kids in Museums to give us the strongest possible application. Our wonderful team at the centre work incredibly hard and Newark is so lucky to be able to showcase a National Museum to families, both locally and nationally. It would be an honour for them to receive yet a second nomination for such a prestigious award, so please pop along and see the centre for yourself.”

The National Civil War Centre in Newark is the county’s only dedicated museum covering the 17th Century conflicts in Britain. Newark was an important strategic location, so it was the natural location for the museum, which opened in 2001.

To nominate The National Civil War Museum for the Family Friendly Museum Award, visit the Kids in Museums website and fill in the online form: www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/awards.

There’s also a feedback form where nominators can put down what makes the museum so family friendly.

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on June 3, 2024.

In June, an expert panel will whittle down the nominations to a shortlist. Undercover family judges will then visit each shortlisted museum and assess them on how well they meet the Kids in Museums Manifesto.

Their experiences will decide the winners — who will be announced at an awards ceremony in October 2024.