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The Boston Children’s Museum beat out international competition for a top award

The museum snagged the 2015 Children in Museums Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The Boston Children’s Museum was recognized on a world stage. Flickr / Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

By Kristi Palma @kristipalma

November 3, 2015

1 minute to read

The Boston Children’s Museum is a mecca for exploration, discovery, and learning. And now the whole world knows it.

The museum snagged the 2015 Children in Museums Award for Lifetime Achievement, beating out international competition from the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, and Spain. ZOOM Kindermuseum in Austria also received the award.

“It is very gratifying to receive this award,’’ Carol Charnow, president and CEO of the Boston Children’s Museum, said in a statement. “I speak for all of the previous leaders and staff of the museum who have made it a remarkable engine of creativity, learning and advocacy for children, when thanking the European Museum Academy and Hands On! for this recognition.’’

The Boston Children’s Museum was among 37 museums worldwide vying for the award and the only U.S. museum chosen among eight finalists. The award was presented at the 10th Hands On! International Conference in Amsterdam.

According to a museum statement, the International Association of Children in Museums and the European Museum Academy said this about why Boston won:

Boston Children’s Museum reflects the best developments in museology for children, in education and in communication. They made learning a core part of their mission, but they have put children and their needs and interests at the heart of it. Boston Children’s Museum is innovative, constantly finding new ways to be places which combines exploration, discovery and learning.

The museum received a bronze statue of Miffy, a popular character created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna as well as a cash award, according to the Hands On! International website.