Press Releases

After a record number of visitors in 2005, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, along with Newport Local Education Authority, has been awarded a prestigious British Educational Communications Technology Agency ICT in Practice award for collaboration between organizations.

The result of the collaboration was the web resource ‘Children of the Revolution', a historical investigation into working life in nineteenth-century Blaenafon, allowing children to explore what life was like in early industrial Wales using video, virtual reality, modelling exercises and interactive mapping.

The website was produced through a professional development network, part-funded by the General Teaching Council for Wales.

Peter Walker, Keeper and Mine Manager said:

“Last year was a tremendous time for us at Big Pit. Almost 157,000 people visited us during 2005, and after winning the Gulbenkian Prize for best UK Museum, we've continued to go from strength to strength.

“Having our education provision recognised with this award has been the icing on the cake for us. We were awarded a Sandford Award for Heritage Education in November, and having our partnership work with Newport acknowledged with the BECTa award reinforces the excellent work we undertake within the Education sector.”

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

“This prize concludes an award-winning year for Big Pit. A comprehensive education programme is an essential part of what a museum is able to offer to help visitors make the most of their experience, and this award is further recognition of the role the Museum has to play in educating people about an important part of our nation's history.'

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is the new name for the National Museums & Galleries of Wales, which operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff; St Fagans: National History Museum; National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon; Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon; National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre; National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

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

Notes for Editors

• For further information, please contact
  Kathryn Stowers, Marketing Officer: Big Pit.
  Tel: (01495) 790311. Mob: 07970 017210. E-mail: www.newportsouthwales.net/revolution
• Big Pit is now open throughout December and January.
  Opening times until the end of January: 9.30 am-4.30 pm.
  Underground closed during January for essential maintenance.