Penelope Lee, from Clifton Hill, is one of 22 Victorian recipients of the prestigious Churchill Fellowship award. Ms Lee will travel to the USA and UK to learn from international women’s museums.
Ms Lee has worked at Her Place Women’s Museum Australia over the last four years in dual roles of General Manager and Board Director. Her role has been focused on identifying, preserving and sharing, known and lesser-known, women’s stories and histories through exhibitions, public events, professional development and educational programs that engage the wider public.
To date Her Place Women’s Museum Australia has exhibited the stories of over 40 women, many of whose contributions have been largely untold,” said Ms Lee. “I would like to learn more about strategic planning, exhibition and educational programming, public engagement and online digital archiving from other women’s museums.”
My Churchill Fellowship will provide me with fresh thinking and new ideas about different and successful women’s museum models, and their respective operational, exhibition, educational and online activities. This will help with Her Place’s growth and sustainability during the next stage of the museum’s development,” said Ms Lee. “Churchill Fellowships recognise people with passion and drive, providing an unrivalled opportunity and freedom
for people to experience world’s best practice on issues that matter to Australian communities,” said CEO of the Churchill Trust, Mr Adam Davey. This year Churchill Fellowships have been awarded to 115 people from cities and towns across Australia, including 22 from Victoria. It is 54 years since the first Churchill Fellowships were awarded in honour of Sir Winston Churchill, however the projects that will be aided by his legacy are still, as he intended, firmly focussed on the future. “While the award we offer may be steeped in history, we are proud that it still remains extraordinarily relevant. Churchill Fellows are up for a challenge, they are people who can foresee an opportunity, know how to address it and will use this experience to work with and learn from their international peers and some outstanding thought leaders. “Each and every one of the 115 Churchill Fellows will return to Australia armed with the practical knowledge and experience needed to advance their projects and create new opportunities in Australia,” added Mr Davey. Churchill Fellowship applications open again on 1 February 2020. The full list of 2019 Churchill Fellows and their projects can be viewed at www.churchilltrust.com.au/ourfellows/2019-churchill-fellowship-award-recipients/