The Novium shortlisted in national family friendly award

Families have ranked The Novium Museum as one of the most family friendly museums in Britain, after it was revealed that it has been shortlisted for the prestigious Kids in Museums' Family Friendly Museum Award.

Over the summer, The Novium Museum will be visited by undercover families who will experience all the museum has to offer. They will measure the museum against the Kids in Museums Manifesto to decide their winner, which will be announced in October.

The judges will look at everything from the welcome received, to the services on offer.

Particularly popular family friendly features include:

· drawers under most display cases which contain further information, handling items, activity sheets and games for children, allowing children to get hands on;

· a variety of trails and activity sheets for families to do going around the museum, including colouring in, word searches and quizzes;

· 'History Detective' backpacks which encourage children and families to gather clues from around the museum to solve a historical mystery;

· a popular dressing up area with a variety of different historical costumes; and

· videos, audio and touchscreens for people to get more information.

"We have a real focus on welcoming families, with lots of hands-on, interactive exhibits and events which educate and stimulate the imagination of all ages," explains Museum Manager, Cathy Hakes. "With an emphasis on intergenerational learning, we aim to create an educational experience that the whole family can enjoy."

Dea Birkett, Creative Director of Kids in Museums, says, "It's great to see the Novium Museum on the shortlist for the first time and so praised and supported by families and children. It's a very special place that is committed to putting young people and families at its heart and encouraging new visitors. We wish the museum best of luck when the undercover family judges arrive!"

The current exhibitions at The Novium are: Chichester in the Great War, The Racton Man, World Objects in Chichester, Priez Memorial, Sidlesham LSA and Murray or None: The Life and Times of Admiral Sir George Murray.

The awards are sponsored by Philip-Mould Gallery and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

The shortlist for the 2016 Family Friendly Museum Award is:
 
Egypt Centre Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (Swansea)
 
Hampton Court Palace (Greater London)
 
Manchester Art Gallery
 
National Glass Centre (Sunderland)
 
The Novium Museum (Chichester)
 
River & Rowing Museum (Henley-on-Thames)
 
Towner Art Gallery (Eastbourne)
 
Weald & Downland Open Air Museum (West Sussex)
 
Wrexham County Borough Museum
 
York Art Gallery
 
Dan Snow, historian, broadcaster and Kids in Museums Patron, says, 'Great to see so many museums, big and small, contemporary galleries and collections of Iron Age artefacts, making a huge effort to welcome and include children and families. Museums celebrate what we have in common, and help us understand our differences. It couldn't be more important for young people and communities to be able to access the shared stories and dreams that our best family friendly museums can help tell. When museums get it right for future generations, they get it right for all of us. This award celebrates that.'