'Les Colombes' up for award

The awards, which are in their 17th year, recognise the innovators and leaders of the UK and international museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions. Winners will be announced at an award ceremony in London on 15 May, with more than 300 industry professionals gathering to enjoy, learn and celebrate.

'Les Colombes' was exhibited in Salisbury Cathedral last year and taken to the heart of the community, as a symbol of real hope during the Novichok poisonings.

Other exhibitions shortlisted in the same category as Les Colombes include:
Science Museum Group's 'Tim Peake's Spacecraft Tour'
Florence Nightingale Museum's 'Spanish Flu: Nursing During History's Deadliest Pandemic'
National Museums Liverpool's 'China's First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors'
Museum of London's 'Fatberg!'
and The Foundling Museum's 'Ladies of Quality & Distinction'

Announcing the shortlist, Diane Lees, chair of the judging panel and Director General of the Imperial War Museums said:
"It's been another year of amazing creativity despite the challenges of our sector. The shortlist features projects of great innovation and community focus making the job of judging very difficult."

The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos said:
"It is amazing to be in such illustrious company and we are delighted. Les Colombes is a powerful installation with a universal message. From the World War One Centenary, which the doves were originally intended to mark, to the shocking events in Salisbury in 2018, the message of reconciliation, peace, and resilience embodied in the doves is potent.

"Just as the exhibition moved on to San Francisco, incorporating doves made in Salisbury, and our own doves flew out across the city, appearing in shops, businesses and schools as part of #salisburycityofdoves, the work powerfully represents the unity and resourcefulness needed to face the challenges of our age."

Les Colombes was curated by Salisbury Cathedral Arts Adviser Jacquiline Creswell and exhibited at the Cathedral from 12 May to 22 July 2018. #salisburycityofdoves ‘dove’ templates and pre-cut origami paper were provided to over 150 businesses, schools and community partners. Around 600 people attended special events that concluded with dove-making workshops and around 20 schools, care homes and community groups hosted dove-making workshops or created their own displays. Prisoners at Erlestoke Prison created some of the doves that were included in the Cathedral display and later in San Francisco.