Portsmouth Historic Dockyard proudly announces its victory at the prestigious Museum + Heritage Awards 2024, where it clinched not one, but two accolades: Partnership of the Year and Best Use of Digital.
The Museum + Heritage Awards stand as a beacon of recognition for excellence within the realm of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions worldwide. Amongst fierce competition, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard emerged triumphant, showcasing its unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and delivering unparalleled visitor experiences.
The award for Partnership of the Year underscores the collaborative and innovative business model that sees Portsmouth Historic Dockyard jointly operated by the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Mary Rose Trust. Impacting on teams across every area of our businesses, this partnership has delivered significant market and revenue growth, operational efficiency, meaningful social impact and improved customer service.
In addition to this triumph, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Mary Rose win for Best Use of Digital highlights its forward-thinking approach to leveraging technology in the preservation and presentation of maritime history. Dive the Mary Rose 4D, a highly innovative immersive 4D cinema experience, tells the human endeavour story of the search for the Mary Rose on the seabed, and goes on to showcase the excavation and successful raising of the hull in 1982. This award recognises that the Dockyard seamlessly integrates digital innovations into its narrative, captivating audiences and bridging the gap between past and present.
Dominic Jones, CEO of the Mary Rose Trust, said:
“We are immensely honoured to receive these prestigious awards from the Museum + Heritage Awards. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the invaluable partnership between The National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Mary Rose Trust – together we are hosting 600K visits a year, enabling visitors of all ages to experience Portsmouth’s iconic and authentic maritime history for themselves.”
Matthew Sheldon, Interim Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said:
“The success of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose Trust at the Museums + Heritage Awards serves as a testament to our status as a global leader in heritage preservation and visitor engagement. As we continue to chart new territories in the realms of partnership and digital innovation, the Dockyard remains steadfast in its mission to inspire, educate, and delight audiences for generations to come.”
For more information about Portsmouth Historic Dockyard visit our ‘Plan your visit’ page.
*Photography credited to Hayley Bray