Hastings Museum and Art Gallery has won bronze in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards.

Each year the awards celebrate the very best tourism businesses and experiences the South and South East has to offer. Awards are divided into 18 categories, including a new Innovation in Tourism category, which recognise businesses’ achievements over the last 18 months. All entrants also receive feedback from independent judges who are experts in the field.

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery has worked hard over the past few years to create a visitor experience which serves both the local community and visitors to Hastings from other parts of the UK and overseas. In 2019 the museum saw a significant increase in visitor figures as result of the various events and activities as well as several projects which allowed the museum to work with local schools and community groups.

Like all industries, 2020-21 was a tough year but the introduction of the Hastings Digital Museum project during lockdown, partially funded by the Chalk Cliff Trust, helped the museum to continue to engage with people through digital activities. Further funding from the Art Fund and Lottery funding has allowed digital engagement to continue throughout 2021.

Councillor Colin Fitzgerald, lead for regeneration and tourism, said: “It is fantastic news that Hastings Museum and Art Gallery has been recognised by Tourism South East’s Beautiful Tourism South Awards as one of the best small visitor attractions. Although this has been a difficult year for the museum, the team have continued to work incredibly hard, and adapted to COVID-19 restrictions by taking activities online with Hastings Digital Museum.

“We look forward to the not too distant future when the museum is able to open, and we can once again have visitors looking at all the excellent exhibitions in place.”