• The citizens’ jury has been shortlisted in the sector impact category  

• This award recognises those who are driving positive change or innovation in the sector

• Winners will be announced on 13 May 2026.  

Birmingham Museums’ award-winning citizens’ jury has been shortlisted in the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards Sector Impact category.  

The Sector Impact Award recognises individuals or organisations who are driving positive change or innovation in the museums and heritage sector and who have demonstrated the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to achieve sector-wide improvements.

Birmingham Museums Citizens’ Jury was convened in 2024 as part of Birmingham Museums Trust’s drive towards participatory engagement to answer the question ‘What does Birmingham need and want from its museums, now and in the future, and what should Birmingham Museums Trust do to make these things happen?’

In February 2025, the jury published a set of 20 recommendations for the city’s museums, urging the trust to ‘take risks and be bold’.  

The jury won the prestigious Best Museums Change Lives Project Award at the Museums Association conference in October 2025, for empowering a diverse group of 26 residents to shape the future of Birmingham Museums through over 30 hours of deliberation, addressing what the city needs from its museums.

The winners of the Museums + Heritage Awards will be revealed at the Museums + Heritage Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 13 May 2026 at Hilton Park Lane in London. 

The Citizens' Jury was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.