WINNER: Peter Ball Bendigo Soldiers Memorial Institute
Judges comments: Peter’s 28 years of volunteer service has been instrumental in transforming the Bendigo Soldiers Memorial Institute into a state-of-the-art facility. His leadership
secured $5.1 million in funding, oversaw a meticulous cataloguing project of over 7,700 items, and spearheaded the museum’s redevelopment and restoration. Peter’s dedication to the museum’s success in making history accessible is something to be admired.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jim Barton Australian Gliding Museum
Judges comments: Jim’s journey has been inspiring. Born in 1931, he started as a young pilot flying a Cessna 180 in the outback for Trans Australian Airlines and eventually became a Boeing 727 Captain. Gliding, however, was his true passion. Jim was the driving force behind the Australian Gliding Museum’s development, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and led the Gliding Club of Victoria for 32 years. His leadership brought innovative solutions for preserving pre-fibreglass gliders and expanding the museum. Rarely missing a working bee today, Jim's dedication is constant and truly inspiring to witness.

WINNER: Neville (Nev) Quick Museums Victoria
Judges’ comments: Nev has dedicated over 25 years at Museums Victoria to creating and maintaining world-class storage solutions. His impact is felt by institutions across the sector, characterised by innovation, generosity, and a deep understanding of museum needs to allow for proper care and access to collections.

WINNER: Laura Miles Victoria Police Museum
Judges’ comments: Laura is highly respected across the Victorian museum sector and beyond for her unwavering commitment to improving advocacy, advancing museum practice, and fostering positive change. Under her exemplary leadership, Victoria Police Museum has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a well-respected and impactful institution that sets the standard for others.

WINNER: Linda Sproul
Judges’ comments: Linda’s commitment to the sector is outstanding. Over the past three decades, she has led new thinking and frameworks for the evolution of the sector and has been exceptionally adaptive to its changing needs. Her work in interdisciplinary collaboration, audience-centred design, and the creation of multi-sensory experiences has clearly helped to shape modern Australian museums as inclusive, democratic spaces.

WINNER: dr megan evans
Judges’ comments: megan's remarkable 40-year career exemplifies her dedication to harnessing collaboration to drive social justice and equity through the arts. Her commitment to community-informed curatorship and her unwavering support for the voices of First Peoples, artists of colour and women have had a profound and lasting impact across Victoria’s public gallery sector. Long before it became industry best practice, megan championed the importance of lived experience in the arts. Recently, at Wyndham Art Gallery, she introduced a guest curator program for both emerging and established curators, fostering greater cultural agency in curatorial practice. By reshaping the narratives of who is represented, who works, and who visits our galleries, megan has undeniably transformed the landscape of our art institutions

WINNER: Ballarat Tramway Museum for Creating a Contemporary and Accessible Tramway Museum
Judges’ comments: This project skilfully used innovative technology to engage all age groups, transforming visitor experiences and making Ballarat's history more accessible. It quadrupled visitation and extended visits from under 20 minutes to 2-3 hours. The integration of tech greatly increased access to the museum’s collections, demonstrating clear innovation and significantly boosting community engagement.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Robin Boyd Foundation for Robin Boyd & Japan
Judges’ comments: This innovative online exhibition used non-linear storytelling to make a complex collection accessible and engaging. It attracted 2,500 visits from 47 countries, highlighted international significance, and strengthened historical connections. The project also set a high-quality template for future online exhibitions and showcased the research skills of volunteers.

WINNER: RMIT Culture / RMIT University for RMIT Artothek
Judges’ comments: Arthotek has made high-quality art accessible to RMIT students, literally bringing art into their homes. By fostering deep engagement with art and supporting student wellbeing, the program has opened up new opportunities for collections staff and demonstrated a groundbreaking approach to risk management, all while enhancing community engagement and making art more accessible. The program's thoughtful design and strong impact have redefined how cultural assets are shared and appreciated within the university.

WINNER: Burrinja Cultural Centre x Bogong Centre for Sound Culture for Between Two Sites
Judges’ comments: This creative project, executed on a very small budget, showcased a strong collaboration between an Artist Run Initiative and a public gallery. The partnership was particularly commendable for its initiatives aimed at low vision and vision-impaired audiences. The project effectively used both onsite and online platforms, creating a meaningful dialogue between two geographic areas and their environments. The impact on gallery practice was significant, highlighting what can be achieved with modest resources.

WINNER: National Wool Museum for We the Makers
Judges’ comments: This is a visually striking exhibition that innovatively explores sustainable fashion design. It successfully engages professionals, emerging creatives, and the community through workshops and educational collaborations. By addressing contemporary societal issues and incorporating best practices in sustainability, the project fosters local participation and inspires future designers. Its ongoing impact highlights the museum's role in supporting the community to shape its heritage with a global perspective and local action.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Golden Dragon Museum for Collection Redevelopment Project
Judges’ comments: This project is a remarkable two-year initiative that brings new life to the museum's significant collection, particularly important to the Chinese community in Australia. By prioritising collection redevelopment and access, the museum has shown impressive innovation, despite limited funding. It not only enhances the preservation of cultural history but also engages interns and students, ensuring that its positive impact will be felt for years to come. 

WINNER: The University of Melbourne for Nightshifts at Buxton Contemporary
Judges’ comments: The University of Melbourne's innovative approach in this project successfully engaged the student community, resulting in strong attendance. By bridging disciplines, generations, and cultural backgrounds, the program fostered international connections and utilised multiple platforms, including take-home audio files. It demonstrated great innovation by effectively using the existing collection and introducing new commissions.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: TarraWarra Museum of Art for The Soils Project
Judges’ comments: This ambitious project between TarraWarra Museum of Art in Australia, the Van Abbemuseum in the Netherlands and Indonesian artist collective Struggles for Sovereignty offered a unique perspective on colonisation and climate change. It effectively connected global contexts and relationships, delivering significant long-term impact and outcomes. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Warrnambool Art Gallery for LISA GORMAN + MIRKA MORA: To breathe with the rhythm of the heart
Judges’ comments: This project excelled with strong collaboration between architects and designers, emphasising upcycling and recycling. It aligned strongly with the organisation’s strategic goals and local context, fostering strong community connections, and achieving notable impact and economic benefits

WINNER: Melbourne Holocaust Museum for Hidden: Seven Children Saved
Judges’ comments: The exhibition offers a beautifully designed, compelling experience for ages 10 and up. Through innovative storytelling and immersive elements, it creates a meaningful, interactive journey. By blending truth-telling with moral lessons, it connects historical narratives with contemporary learning, inspiring empathy and behavioural change. The exhibition effectively engages visitors with Holocaust survivors' stories, making it especially relevant and impactful for younger audiences. Its success is reflected in the positive feedback from students and teachers, showcasing it as a best practice for ageappropriate, emotionally engaging museum experiences.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: State Library Victoria for Mirror: New Views on Photography
Judges’ comments: The exhibition showcases diverse stories through a contemporary curatorial approach, integrating Auslan and multimedia to enhance inclusivity. It innovatively includes First Nations and Pacific voices, reinterpreting colonial collections in a modern context. The project has significantly increased engagement with new audiences at the State Library, addressing themes of identity and representation. Its strong visitor numbers and media attention highlight its impact, though further evaluation of diverse perspectives and community participation would provide a fuller picture of its reach and effectiveness.

WINNER: Australian Centre for Contemporary Art for Between Waves
Judges’ comments: This project was the standout among the entries, with ACCA’s exceptional community engagement and curator Jessica Clark's success in incorporating diverse voices making a strong impression. The exhibition felt incredibly contemporary and had a profound impact, with some of the best work produced by the artists who pushed their practices to exciting new heights. The program's holistic approach and ambitious scope highlight ACCA's success in embedding meaningful engagement within First Peoples' spaces, demonstrating a truly significant achievement.

Ballarat Tramway Museum - Creating a Contemporary and Accessible Tramway Museum
Charlton Golden Grains Museum - Keeping the Faith
Port Fairy Museum and Archive - A Walk Through Time
Robin Boyd Foundation - Robin Boyd & Japan

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection - Princes Bridge Creative Hoardings Project
Glenelg Shire Council (Portland Maritime Museum) - Harnessing STEAM Power!
Phillip Island Historical Society X Convergence Design - Berninneit Museum
RMIT Culture / RMIT University - RMIT Artothek
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum - Creative Learning Program

Burrinja Cultural Centre X Bogong Centre for Sound Culture - Between Two Sites
Greater Dandenong City Council - HOME 24 - Olana Janfa: Too Much Drama
McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery - On Bunurong Country: Art and design in Frankston
RMIT Culture - Tintin Wulia: Secrets
Shepparton Art Museum - The ARNDT Collection: From One World to Another

Beechworth Courthouse X Convergence Design - Beechworth Courthouse Kelly Trials Exhibition
Golden Dragon Museum - Collection Redevelopment Project
Museums Victoria - Joy
National Wool Museum - We the Makers

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art - Between Waves
TarraWarra Museum of Art - The Soils Project
The University of Melbourne - Nightshifts at Buxton Contemporary
Warrnambool Art Gallery - LISA GORMAN + MIRKA MORA: To breathe with the rhythm of the heart

ACMI - Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature
Melbourne Holocaust Museum - Hidden Seven Children Saved
Ned Kelly Discovery Hub X Convergence Design - Ned Kelly Discovery Hub
State Library Victoria - Mirror: New Views on Photography

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) - Between Waves
Bunjil Place - Ngaratya (together, us group, all in it together)
Counihan Gallery X Blak Dot Gallery - Future River: When the past flows
McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery - Current: Gail Mabo, Lisa Waup, Dominic White
Monash University Museum of Art - Collective Movements: First Nations Collectives, Collaborations and Creative Practices from Across Victoria
Museums Victoria - Biik Milboo Dhumba - Country is Always Talking
Science Gallery Melbourne - Indigenous Learning Program
Shepparton Art Museum - Creative Arts Storytelling Program
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation - The Beruk Exhibition
* All nominations have been shortlisted in this category.