Newcastle Museum became the first local government-run museum to take out overall winner at the national museums and galleries awards this month.
It's a coup for the museum, which was named the most impressive entry from 42 finalists across 16 categories for its 1X4 social history exhibition at the MAGNA Awards.
It also won the Temporary or Travelling Exhibition Award in its budget category.
The 1X4 exhibition, which ended last month, featured 23 items from Newcastle Museum's own collection including a brass model locomotive, a pigeon trophy and a lace gown. Each item had four different stories attached to it which could be explored via mobile phone or audio tour, as well as a choice of music.
The exhibition, put together by curator David Hampton with a budget of less than $20,000, was conceived and created locally despite challenges presented by COVID-19.
It highlighted the role of curators and historians in shaping how we perceive significance, and engaged an online audience worldwide.
"The philosophy of the exhibition was one that had been a long-standing belief at Newcastle Museum: that every object tells multiple stories, and that visitors should realise that museum curators choose interpretations," Newcastle Museum director Julie Baird tells Weekender.
"1X4 all started when our audience engagement officer Bree Rooney came into my office and said 'You know how you are always saying that every object tells multiple stories? How about we do an exhibition like that?'.
"Objects can tell multiple stories from many points of view. So, who chooses the story? Which story is the truth?
"Newcastle Museum's1X4was an innovative, collection-rich, social history exhibition exploring the multiplicity of narratives each object can tell. In museums, curators choose an interpretation but 1X4 turned this upside down. It encouraged visitors to explore its stories and themes by placing the exhibition in the palms of their hands."
The interpretative platform for 1X4 was developed as a dedicated website designed in-house and formatted for use on smart phones and tablets. Visitors were encouraged to bring their phones or wifi-enabled devices to the museum to engage with the exhibition's content.
Rather than interpretive panels featuring large amounts of text to read, visitors could then explore the exhibition at their own pace, either on site at the museum or later at their own leisure.
To access the stories now, all you have to do is go to 1X4.com.au on your phone or device.
The MAGNA judges were impressed with Newcastle Museum's creativity and ingenuity.
"Innovative and adaptive program developed during lockdown. Designed in-house utilising technology and staff skills. The tour of the exhibition responds to a need in the sector. Engaging youth is a strong focus, and the ability to extend the program 'after hours' via website. Great project on many levels."
"Wonderfully conceived and executed. Small and perfectly formed from start to finish."
This was a true group effort. Every member of the museum's team was involved in 1x4 in some way, be it recording audio labels, being a voice actor, promoting the exhibition on social media, decorating the gallery's walls, or creating digital content or graphics.
"This is how a local government funded museum with a staff of 12.2 can create a travelling exhibition for under $18,000 in less than a year during COVID that innovates and challenges while still being popular and accessible," Baird says.
"We see this as the creation of our whole team and a win for all of us in Newcastle as a whole."
Designed as a flexible COVID-safe regional tourer, 1x4 will make its way to Randwick City Council's La Perouse Museum in September. UK institution The Victoria & Albert Museum tweeted about the innovation of the exhibition and local government-funded museums in Canada have been in contact and are interested in creating their own version of the 1X4 concept.
