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2009 IMAGinE awards winners

19 / 10 / 2009

Gallery and museum representatives from across NSW and the ACT converged on the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour on Saturday 17 October 2009 for the presentation of the 2009 IMAGinE awards. Now in their second year, the awards celebrate the achievements of the museum and gallery sector in NSW and the ACT and those who work within it. Winners included galleries and museums, big and small, from right across the state and territory in a number of categories, including exhibitions, collection management and education and public engagement.

The Western Sydney region proved to be a strong force, with cutting-edge facility Campbelltown Arts Centre being chosen for a joint award for excellence along with Parramatta Heritage Centre.

Manning Regional Art Gallery and Richmond River Historical Society also picked up awards for excellence.

Western Plains Cultural Centre, a state-of-the-art facility in Dubbo was acknowledged for their education and public programs, as was Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery in the Hunter region of NSW. Other regional organisations who received awards on the night included the Berrima District Museum in the Southern Highlands and Walgett Historical Society in the North West of NSW.

Individuals were also acknowledged for their contribution to the sector with three awards being presented in this category, all to regionally-based museum staff and volunteers.

“These awards are a fantastic way to highlight the vital role that museums and galleries play in the cultural life of their communities and as custodians of the cultural material that defines us all”, said Maisy Stapleton, CEO of Museums & Galleries NSW which initiated the awards.

Celebrity host Peter Berner added an element of humour to the cocktail event which saw over 100 arts professionals and volunteers from across the state come together to acknowledge their peers.

The awards are an initiative of Museums & Galleries NSW, Museums Australia (NSW & ACT), and Regional & Public Galleries NSW and are sponsored by macforbes wines, Mental Media and the Australian National Maritime Museum. Museums & Galleries NSW is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW, under Communities NSW.

The IMAGinE awards are sponsored by macforbes wines and Mental Media, with the venue generously provided by the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Download the full list of 2009 IMAGinE awards winners here

Download the media release here

More about the IMAGinE awards here