Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery wins top tourism award

The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery won the award at the annual Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The awards, organised by Marketing Lancashire, were held at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Tuesday, February 11.

The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery were shortlisted as finalists in August 2024.

Between the shortlist announcement and the award ceremony, finalists went through several stages, including mystery shopping, announced visits, and interviews with the independent Lancashire Tourism Award judges.

The judges said they were ‘impressed’ by The Whitaker’s ‘far-ranging cultural programme that encompasses emerging as well as established artists.’

They said the museum is “constantly evolving its offer while balancing innovation, inclusivity and income generation, and their work with partners, contributors and artists, has created something quite wonderful, that speaks to local as well as national audiences.”

Gaynor Seville, creative director of The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have won this prestigious award.

“Huge thanks must go to our hard-working staff team, and our army of volunteers who help to run the museum.

“We are so proud that the judges could see the meaning engagement, carefully considered programme and benefit to the community that we strive so hard to achieve.”

The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery are ‘pleased’ to announce that they were the winners of the category Best Cultural Venue/Organisation (Image: Supplied)

Vikki Harris, marketing and partnerships director of Marketing Lancashire, said: “We are one of the most visited counties in England and I want us to stay that way.

“Lancashire has always been a great destination for domestic visitors, but we can’t rest on our laurels.

“We want people to think that Lancashire is the place to go today, and when they get here we want them to have such a fabulous time, that they come here again and again.

“At Marketing Lancashire we’re passionate about positioning Lancashire as a top visitor destination that truly rivals our neighbouring counties.

“Our vision is to continue to transform people’s perceptions of Lancashire and in turn grow the visitor economy back to pre-pandemic levels.”

The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery previously won the award for Best Cultural Venue in Lancashire in 2021.