Beamish Museum Celebrates Double Triumph: Art Fund Award Win and Record-Breaking Visitor Numbers
A Year of Outstanding Achievement
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, has been crowned Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, with Chief Executive Rhiannon Hiles receiving the prestigious £120,000 prize – the largest museum award in the world – at a ceremony presented by comedian Phil Wang.
The museum has achieved remarkable success in the past year, welcoming over 838,630 visitors and completing its largest-ever development – the Remaking Beamish project. This ambitious initiative involved more than 32,000 community members, 14,338 schoolchildren, and accumulated 35,000 volunteer hours to create 31 new exhibits.
Innovation and Community Impact
The expansion includes over 25 new attractions, featuring a vibrant 1950s Town where visitors can experience authentic period features such as Front Street terrace with its hair salon and fish and chip shop, John’s Café complete with jukebox, and the recreated home of famous North East artist Norman Cornish. The development also includes Coronation Park, which opened in May 2022, featuring a putting green and traditional playground.
Art Fund director Jenny Waldman praised Beamish as “a joyous, immersive and unique place shaped by the stories and experiences of its community.” The museum, celebrating its 55th anniversary, has been recognized as “a jewel in the crown of the North East” and continues to delight visitors with its innovative approach to preserving heritage.
Looking to the Future
As the North East’s leading visitor attraction, Beamish stands as the beating heart of the region’s identity and values. The museum has earned recognition for its commitment to supporting wellbeing and learning activities while maintaining an inclusive environment. Looking ahead, their strategy extends to 2035, with plans to expand their role in supporting the region’s communities and economy.
The museum currently provides innovative educational programming for 40,000 schoolchildren annually, and future developments include plans for overnight accommodation in converted farm buildings and cottages. Visitors will also have opportunities to try their hand at traditional skills, providing a unique glimpse into forgotten ways of life.
