Museum wins state-wide award for home-grown exhibition

Orange Mayor Cr Reg Kidd has congratulated all involved in putting together the latest exhibition at the Orange Regional Museum after the Museum won a state-wide award for the show.

Orange Regional Museum won an ‘IMAGinE’ award for All in a Day’s Work, a joint initiative of the Museum and the Orange & District Historical Society drawing on the Society’s collection of photographic negatives from the Central Western Daily.

The exhibition was competing against museums of its size from across the state, in the contest organised by Museums & Galleries of NSW. The prize was the top award for exhibitions among museums with 3 to ten staff.

GRINNERS : Orange Historical society members and museum staff celebrate the win for the recent ‘All in a Days Work ‘ exhibition. Pictured with the trophy are (l. to r.) Phil Stevenson, Sally Maclennan, Allison Campbell, Robert Bruce, Lis Edwards Brad Hammond and Mike Allen

The exhibition was developed in partnership with the Orange & District Historical Society and coincided with their 70th anniversary year. The exhibition provided an intriguing window into the experience of work in Orange from 1955 to 1974, featuring 79 photographs from the Central Western Daily negative collection which has over 1.2 million negatives.

Curated by members of the Historical Society, the exhibition brought together often beautiful historic images with engaging stories of the past. Through innovative exhibition design, the images were displayed on stylised workbenches with interpretive text and as immersive digital projections.

“It was fantastic to see the Historical Society cooperating with Museum staff, and for the end result to be judged of such high quality,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “Along with the thousands of people who went to see this show, I was impressed at the quality of the images and the way they brought alive the stories of Orange’s recent working history.”

“The Museum doesn’t set out to receive an award judged by their peers, but when it happens, it’s a real encouragement to all involved they they’re doing the right thing.”

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