Press Releases

Big Pit is one of the National Museums & Galleries of Wales' six sites across Wales. Receiving the award at an exclusive gala event in London, Keeper & Mine Manager, Peter Walker, said: "It's been a great experience being involved in this award, and we are delighted to be here tonight as winners."

"We've wanted Big Pit to win this prize for so many reasons. It proves that we've finally come of age as a national museum, and that we're offering a fantastic experience for our visitors — many of whom return time after time. Big Pit is a special place to visit, and I'm delighted that the judges in this year's competition feel the same way as we do about the museum.

"Our funders have been with us every step of the way, and we are extremely grateful to them for their support and encouragement over the past few years. Their faith in us has, hopefully, been repaid here this evening."

Alun Pugh, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, said:

"This is a fantastic achievement and one that Big Pit fully deserves. The knowledge and dedication of the staff, together with the recent redevelopment work have made Big Pit a world-class attraction and winning the Gulbenkian Prize is a very well earned recognition of this. As the son of a coal miner, I have a special interest in Big Pit, so I am very proud that the Welsh Assembly Government has been able to support this invaluable piece of our industrial heritage."

In 2004, Big Pit saw a record 141,000 people visit the site and enjoy the unique attractions on offer at the museum, following its recent £7million development, which was funded principally by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional money from the Welsh Assembly Government, Heritage Lottery Fund, Wales Tourist Board, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the Local Regeneration Fund, the Pilgrim Trust and the SR & PH Southall Trust.

Jennifer Stewart, Manager of Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, the main funder for the Big Pit project, said:

"It is fantastic news that one of the most important heritage sites in Wales has been recognised with such a prestigious award. It is so rewarding to see the positive impact that over £5 million of Lottery players' money has made here, in terms of conservation, regeneration and pride in our coal mining heritage. Our industrial past in Wales plays an integral role in the lives of local communities as well as attracting visitors through innovative successes such as Big Pit. We hope to see many more successful museums in the future!"

Big Pit, as part of the Blaenafon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site, is key to telling the story of the industrial heritage of South Wales. It works closely with HERIAN, the partnership of local authorities, public bodies and voluntary groups set up to champion heritage as a source of economic and community benefit.

Other NMGW sites are the National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff, Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans, Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon, National Woollen Museum, Dre fach Felindre and the Welsh Slate Museum, Llanberis. Opening later this year is the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, telling the stories of the peoples, industry and innovation of Wales.

Entry to all NMGW sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

-Ends-

Notes for Editors

• For further details on Big Pit winning the Gulbenkian award, please contact:

  Kathryn Stowers
  Press Officer: Big Pit.
  07970 017210
  kathryn.stowers@museumwales.ac.uk

  Gwenllïan Carr
  Head of Press and Public Relations, NMGW
  07974 205 849
  gwenllian.carr@museumwales.ac.uk

• The judging panel for the 2005 Gulbenkian prize represented a wide range of artistic, scientific and academic interests and comprises:
• Joan Bakewell CBE, broadcaster and writer
• Sir Neil Chalmers, Warden, Wadham College, Oxford and former Director of the Natural History Museum
• Michael Day, Chief Executive, Historic Royal Palaces
• Sokari Douglas Camp, sculptor
• Victoria Hislop, journalist and novelist
• Dr Elizabeth Mackenzie, Vice Chairman of the British Association of Friends of Museums.
• The Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year is administered by The Museum Prize, a charitable company created in 2001 by representatives of National Heritage, the Museums Association, the National Art Collections Fund and the Campaign for Museums. These organisations agreed to put aside award schemes they formerly ran (including the National Heritage Museum of the Year) and lend their support to the prize. The Museum Prize is chaired by Lady Cobham. Trustees of The Museum Prize include representatives of all four founding organisations.
• The Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year is funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The UK Branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is responsible for grant aid in the UK and Republic of Ireland and runs funding programmes in arts, social welfare, education and Anglo-Portuguese cultural relations.
• Big Pit is open seven days a week mid Feb – end Nov, 9.30am–5pm. Underground tours run frequently 10am–3.30pm.