Hawkesbury Museum and Gallery won at the 2023 IMAGinE Awards
The Hawkesbury Regional Gallery and Hawkesbury Regional Museum at the recent 2023 IMAGinE Awards held on Wednesday, 29 November 2023.
The Gallery was awarded the Exhibitions Project Award – Small Gallery for its Exhibition Project ‘Dyarubbin’ exhibition, which was held from 29 October 2022 to 5 February 2023.
The exhibition received a 400-big gathering during its opening, including a visit by The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. It highlights the reconciliation efforts in the Hawkesbury region by highlighting the challenges the Dharug people faced in previous centuries.
On the other hand, the Museum received an Engagement Programs Award – Small Organisation for its ‘Bangadyi Nawi Making a Canoe,’ a collaborative community engagement project between the Hawkesbury Regional Museum, the Dharug community, and Brewongle Environmental Education Centre.
The engagement program provided a transformative experience for local Aboriginal high school students. The canoe the students created during an inter-generational camp, led by Elder Uncle Dean Kelly, Uncle David Payne, and Dharug Educator Erin Wilkins, is now a permanent exhibition and part of the Museum’s collections. 
The IMAGinE Awards is an initiative by the Museums & Galleries of NSW that aims to emphasise the “resilience, innovation and creativity of museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW and recognise the passionate people who work in them.”
The momentous win is the first IMAGinE award for the Gallery and the third for the Museum. The latter won an award in 2011 for Collection Management and another in 2015 for having the Best Exhibition (Exhibition Projects – Museums; 3 – 10 Paid Staff).
Held at the Sydney Modern Art Gallery of NSW, the Gallery is the first among over 20 exhibition projects for its category, while the Gallery is at the top among over ten engagement programs.
The quality of exhibitions and programs at the Gallery and Museum and the dedication of staff are being commended by the Mayor of Hawkesbury and Councillor Sarah McMahon.
“Congratulations to the staff and artists involved in creating these significant exhibitions and programs,” Mayor McMahon said.
“Thank you also to our wonderful volunteers who continue to support our Museum and Gallery so that we can open our facilities for our visitors to enjoy.
“For both projects, Museum and Gallery staff engaged extensively with Dharug people and the Hawkesbury community throughout the planning and development of the exhibition and program,” Mayor McMahon said.
The Hawkesbury Regional Museum is at 8 Baker Street in Windsor, while the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery is located on the 1st floor of the Deerubbin Centre, at 300 George Street in Windsor.
