Power of Place: Midlands Museums Awards — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is eligible to enter the Power of Place: Midlands Museums Awards?
Any not-for-profit, charitable, or publicly funded **museum based in the Midlands is eligible to enter. Your museum must have a publicly accessible collection and operate within the Midlands region. Projects submitted must have taken place between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2025, and can be either completed or ongoing.
**While applicant museums do not have to be formally part of the Arts Council England (ACE) Accreditation Scheme, in cases where eligibility is unclear we will refer to ACE’s accreditation guidance to help determine what constitutes a museum. If you are unsure whether your organisation meets the eligibility criteria, please contact us at enquiries@midlands.org.uk and we will be pleased to help.
Important Eligibility Note:
These awards are now open to all Midlands-based museums, including those that receive funding through Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) scheme.
2. What kind of projects can be submitted?
We welcome all kinds of projects, big or small! Whether it’s a major exhibition, a grassroots community initiative, a digital project, or a simple but powerful change led by a small team — if it made an impact, we want to hear about it. Green initiatives, innovative programming, improved accessibility, volunteer-led activities, or even behind-the-scenes work are all valid. The key is that the work shows creativity, care, and a commitment to your community, audiences, or collections.
3. How many categories can I enter, and how does the application process work?
You can enter any or all of the five award categories – there’s no limit! It’s all done easily through one online form:
👉 https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MDM-Awards/
The application asks just four short questions (each up to 200 words), with space to upload up to 10 supporting files (images, documents, etc.) to help tell your story.
You’ll need to submit a separate entry form for each category that you would like to enter.
4. What kind of supporting material can I include?
It’s completely up to you! You can upload up to 10 supporting files, and these can be anything that helps bring your project to life — photos, videos, PDFs, press coverage, visitor feedback, evaluation reports, or even posters and promotional materials. There are no strict rules — just choose what best showcases your work and impact.
5. When is the deadline, and when will winners be announced?
Applications close: Monday 29 September at 9am
Shortlist announced: Friday 3 October
Awards presented: Wednesday 12 November at Thinktank, Birmingham
Make sure to get your entry in on time — we can’t wait to celebrate the fantastic work of Midlands museums!
6. Does it cost anything to enter?
Entry to the Power of Place: Midlands Museums Awards is completely free. We want to make it easy and accessible for all museums across the Midlands to celebrate their fantastic work.
7. What are the award categories?
There are five categories, each celebrating different areas of museum achievement:
The Inclusive Impact Award
For projects making real strides in inclusivity — whether through workforce diversity, accessibility, community engagement, or welcoming new voices.The Green Spark Award
Celebrating eco-friendly initiatives and sustainability efforts, from zero-waste events to greener collections care.The Creative Collections Award
Honouring innovation in collections management, care, research, and interpretation — from bold exhibitions to volunteer-led projects and creative storytelling.Next-Level Award
For museums or teams embracing change and innovation — testing new ideas, improving visitor experiences, or evolving how they work.Bridge Builder Award
Recognising outstanding partnerships that bring people and organisations together to create meaningful, impactful work and strengthen museum audiences.
8. Who can I contact if I have questions or need help with my application?
If you have any questions, want to talk through your project, or just need a bit of guidance, feel free to get in touch at enquiries@midlands.org.uk. We’re always happy to chat and support you through the process.