FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA RELEASE Prestigious Industry Awards announced for Queensland’s museums and galleries! Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) proudly announced the winners of the 2006 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards at a special ceremony hosted by the Queensland Museum on Friday 20 October. Arts Minister Rod Welford presented the annual Awards to a range of organisations and individuals from across the State. “Our government is proud to be associated with the affectionately named annual GAMAAs, honouring the achievements of our many galleries and museums throughout the state and the individuals who work in them” Mr. Welford said. Now in its third year, the Awards celebrate the significant work of individuals in the museum and gallery industry and the projects they have initiated, whilst encouraging the development of outstanding exhibitions, education projects and public programs. The Awards promote and inspire best practice in museums and galleries by encouraging organisations to enhance their profile for the benefit of their local and wider communities. Nominations for the 2006 Awards were received from throughout the state as far afield as Cooktown, Cairns, Longreach, Cherbourg, Townsville, Sarina, Bowen, Theodore, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Bundaberg with a large number of nominations from Brisbane, South East Queensland and the Darling Downs. The Chairperson of Museum and Gallery Services Queensland, John Walsh, stated “The Awards are an important component of our annual program, drawing attention to the excellent work undertaken by our colleagues in the museum and gallery sector across Queensland. Whether they are major state institutions or individuals from small volunteerrun organisations, those being recognised work tirelessly with and for their communities”. Suzannah Conway, Executive Director of M&GSQ said that “Support from the many sponsors of the Awards enabled recipients from regional Queensland to accept their awards in person.” She thanked Brian Tucker for his generous sponsorship of the trophies, specially commissioned and designed by Queensland jeweller and designer Matt Dwyer. She also thanked Brandi Exhibitions and Zetta Florence for sponsoring the individual award categories. She added that “Special mention should be made of the Queensland Teachers’ Credit Union Limited (QTCU) who has sponsored the Awards for a third year, presenting a special Educational Initiative Award for the second year running”. Winners were announced by the Minister in the following six nominated categories: Category Organisations – Staff of 7 or more Winner Queensland Museum South Bank Dandiiri Maiwar: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures Centre Special Commendation The Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich 60th Anniversary of VP Day Celebrations Category Organisations – Staff of 1 to 6 Winner Bundaberg Arts Centre Fully Sick!!! Youth Public Art Project Category Organisations – Volunteer Run Winner Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Inc. The Ration Shed Museum and Precinct Special Commendation Central Queensland Military and Artifact Museum Association, Rockhampton Outreach Trailer Project Category Individual Award - Paid Joint Winners Pamela Whitlock, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum Lisa Jones, Queensland Police Museum Category Individual Award - Volunteer Winner Paulette Baxter, Theodore and District Historical Society (Dawson Folk Museum) Category QTCU Educational Initiative Winner Cobb and Co. Museum, Toowoomba Kids Time – a century of learning through play exhibition Special Commendation Queensland Museum, Regional Services Program, South Bank Couran Cove Environmental Loan Kits Special Commendation Nambour & District Historical Museum Association Inc. Early Gardens Photographic Exhibition The Arts Minister also commended the work of Museum and Gallery Services Queensland, the peak industry body for the gallery and museum sector in Queensland, who manage the annual Awards and praised the work that is being undertaken by the organisation in Training and Professional Development. The Minister presented RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) commendations for achievement to the first eleven Queensland recipients who had undertaken a pilot program with M&GSQ to complete their Certificates III & IV in Museum Practice. “The Recognition of Prior Learning program assessed the valuable skills that many museum and gallery workers utilise on a daily basis. The program has been important for the sector as it has allowed geographically isolated museum and gallery workers, including volunteers, to complete their studies and gain recognition for their existing skills” Mr Welford said. For media enquiries, interviews and further information please contact: Suzannah Conway, Executive Director, M&GSQ Phone: 073 215 0822 Email: suzannah.conway@magsq.com.au Website: www.magsq.com.au Mobile: 0417 633 099 MEDIA RELEASE ENDS