Showtown has won the Inclusive Spaces Award at the Museums Change Lives Awards 2026
The award was announced at the Museums Association's annual conference in Birmingham on Tuesday 3 November, recognising our commitment to challenging outdated stereotypes, amplifying overlooked voices and putting communities at the heart of how their histories are told.
And with Showtown only opening in March 2024, it's another incredible achievement for Blackpool's museum of fun and entertainment!
Telling history through their eyes
Created in partnership with Little People UK and a community group of people with lived experience of dwarfism, Through Our Eyes explored the history of little people in entertainment, challenging stereotypes and celebrating their lives, careers and experiences beyond the circus.
Rather than telling these stories on their behalf, we worked alongside the community to shape everything from the exhibition's content and design to its title and interpretation.
We even adapted the exhibition space itself, lowering display cases and adjusting lighting to create a more accessible experience.
The results spoke for themselves, with 9 out of 10 visitors learning that 'little people' is the appropriate terminology, and feedback highlighting important messages about equality, respect and representation.
The Museums Change Lives judging panel described the project as exceptional and ethically minded, praising its collaborative approach and lasting impact.
Creating a legacy beyond Blackpool
Although the exhibition has now closed, its impact is continuing to grow.
Working with our community group, we've developed a practical toolkit to help museums and archives interpret collections featuring little people more sensitively and inclusively.
The toolkit has already been adopted by several museums and is being used in teaching at the University of St Andrews, helping to influence the next generation of museum professionals.
Explore the Through Our Eyes toolkit
And there's more to come!
Our award-winning exhibition will soon become the first online exhibition on Showtown Backstage, our newly launched online home for Blackpool's collections.
This means the stories, voices and research behind Through Our Eyes will continue to reach audiences around the world, creating a lasting digital legacy for the project.
Another reason to celebrate!
This latest award joins a growing list of achievements for Showtown, including Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2025 and a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award for the second consecutive year.
It also comes at an exciting time for Blackpool, which has been shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2029, highlighting the ambition, creativity and cultural talent already thriving in our town.
Jill Carruthers, Head of Heritage at Showtown, said:
"We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised nationally for this ethically minded project that puts people and communities at its heart. Blackpool has always been a place of extraordinary people, remarkable stories and incredible creativity. However, not all stories are given the same platform and opportunity to be heard. At Showtown, and as a public museum, we believe we have a responsibility to change that."
A huge thank you to Little People UK, our community group and everyone who helped bring Through Our Eyes to life, with special thanks to the Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund for making this project possible. This award is a celebration of what can happen when communities are empowered to tell their own stories. 💛