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Brunel's ss Great Britain Nets 'Museums and Galleries Month' Award Success

Families who took part in workshops at Brunel's ss Great Britain are celebrating after 'netting' second place in a UK-wide competition.

The 'Dream Boat' workshop and launch, which took place in May, has just been named runner-up in the Museums and Galleries Month Commendation Scheme.

The imaginative events, stunning boats, and involvement of families and volunteers at Brunel's ss Great Britain, impressed the judges.

The 'Dream Boat' workshops and launch involved visitors in a creative and imaginative event - just one of many which feature in the 'what's on' calendar at the popular all-weather museum and visitor attraction. And this month the multi award-winning museum attraction has 'Mr Brunel' - actor Martin Williamson in costume and character (August 7 to 12, 14 to 19, 21 to 27, and 29 to 31) - and 'Sinbad's sea chests' workshops with an artist in residence (August 20, 21, 23, and 24).

Museums and Galleries Month, which runs the commendation scheme, is the UK's annual and month-long celebration of museums and galleries.

Dream Boat workshops at Brunel's ss Great Britain gave children and their families the opportunity to make giant origami-style boats, and use different decorative techniques.

The workshops were included in the admission price to Brunel's ss Great Britain, which allows for FREE unlimited return visits for one year.

The massive paper boats were illuminated and launched, into the harbour, next to Brunel's ss Great Britain and the Dockyard Café Bar, to mark the end of the celebratory month. They created a stunning and visually inspiring sight.

Each colourful boat measured one metre in length and was made from card, folded into a traditional paper boat design. Families decorated their boats with pictures and words to describe themselves, and designs included their hopes and dreams for the future.

One fine example of boat-building and decoration was a faithful reproduction of the 'Black Pearl', the ship made famous by the blockbuster trilogy 'Pirates of The Caribbean', starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow!

The workshops were packed to capacity and more than100 people attended the evening launch. Following this success there are plans to run the Dream Boat event next year, with the possible addition of live music and a web cam.

Helen Horler, Education and Access Officer for the ss Great Britain Trust, said: "The Dream Boat launch was an absolutely stunning event with boats lit with candles. Floating on the water they created beautiful reflections. It was an amazing harbour spectacle and an amazing way to celebrate Museum and Galleries Month."

Helen added: "I am delighted with this success, which recognises the talents of the families, and our volunteers, and look forward to repeating the Dream Boat activities next year."

Award-wins for Brunel's ss Great Britain include 'Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2007' in the Enjoy England Excellence Awards, the Gulbenkian Prize for 'Museum of the Year 2006', and 'Best Industrial Museum in Europe 2007'.

Pitt Rivers Museum and Oxford Natural History Museums received the Museum and Galleries Month top prize with 'In a Different Light'.