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RUGBY Art Gallery and Museum (RAGM) has been shortlisted for prestigious award for encouraging record numbers of visitors following the pandemic.
The venue has made the shortlist for the best service team of the year award in the sports, leisure and cultural sector at the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) Service Awards after adopting a new approach to programming following the Covid lockdowns.
RAGM welcomed record visitor numbers during 2023-24, and increased community engagement, by focusing on attracting new audiences and expanding the venue’s community outreach work.
The venue has forged partnerships with charities and community organisations, provides regular ‘Relaxed Hours’ for visitors on the autism spectrum, and runs Good Times sessions tailored to tackle loneliness, designed for people with dementia.
It also hosts a weekly warm hub during the winter months to help people struggling with the cost of living, and has worked with specialist charity Children’s North East to identify and help people experiencing financial hardship to engage with the arts and heritage.
Coun Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council’s (RBC) portfolio holder for partnerships and wellbeing, said making the shortlist for the APSE award was testament to the hard work of the venue’s staff and volunteers.
She said: “Nationally, the cultural sector has struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels of visitor numbers and community engagement, so Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s innovative new approach to programming has helped buck the national trend and deliver tangible benefits to both our communities and the town centre economy.
“Making the shortlist follows the Art Gallery and Museum’s shortlisting for the best community and neighbourhood initiative at last year’s APSE awards, so the venue has built a national reputation for excellence in its field.”
The APSE Service Awards ceremony takes place at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel on Thursday September 12.
RAGM has also retained its VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction status following a recent ‘mystery shopper’ inspection.
The venue secured an overall quality score of 85 per cent.
The inspector said: “The guides encountered in the galleries were all approachable and informative, proving very knowledgeable on the gallery and museum content when asked.”
They also singled out the venue’s growth in visitor numbers, the cleanliness of the building, the ‘very high standard’ of its interpretation boards, and new cafe Pickle & Pie.
Coun Neil Sandison, RBC’s Liberal Democrat spokesperson for partnerships and wellbeing, said he was delighted the venue had retained the coveted quality assured status from VisitEngland.
He added: “By widening and deepening its appeal to more diverse groups, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum is attracting more residents and visitors who may not have considered going in to this type of venue.
“This is very much down to the innovation and dedication of both staff and volunteers, and the warm welcome they offer visitors.”
Visit www.ragm.co.uk for more information about RAGM.
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