Awards, Prizes and Nominations

Since we reopened in February 2015, we have won a number of awards and prizes.

We have won: 

Visit England Large Visitor Attraction of the Year (Gold Award)

Art Fund Museum of the Year 2015

RIBA National Award

RIBA North West Award

RIBA North West Conservation Award

RIBA North West Building of the Year

Visit England Gold Accolade

International Design Communication Awards – Silver for Best Branding Campaign

Architects Journal Retrofit Awards 2015 – Cultural & Public Buildings

Architects Journal Retrofit Awards 2015 – Heritage Listed Buildings

Leading Culture Destinations Awards 2015 (Best Emerging Culture Destination – Europe)

The Blueprint Awards 2015 - Best Public Use Project with Public Funding – Commended

Manchester Building of the Year (Chamber of Commerce Awards)

Manchester Tourism Awards – Large Visitor Attraction

Brick Award for Best Public Building

Winner of the British Gypsom National Trophy – Plaster category 2016

North West Regional Construction Awards 2016 – Project of the Year: Project: The Whitworth – Highly Commended

Government, Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) – award to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure a sustainable future, 2020

Joint recipient (Heart N Soul, Eden Court, Museum of Homelessness, The Whitworth) of the first 'Award for Civic Arts Organisations', from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch), together with King’s College London, 2021

We have also been shortlisted for:

European Museum of the Year

The RIBA Stirling Prize (The UK's most prestigious architectural award)

The National Lottery Awards 2015

The 2015 Collections Trust Award for Participatory Practice

Brick Development Association Awards

Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) Awards 2015 - special mention as 'one to watch' and as the only university and cultural organisation to have ever been nominated.

Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence – Trading and Enterprise – Shop