The KwaZulu-Natal Museum has been named the winner of the 2026 NACA Outstanding Museum Award, earning national recognition for more than a century of preserving, researching and sharing the province’s natural and cultural heritage.
The award was presented at the third National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) at Sun City Resort in the North West Province on Friday.
The 2026 NACA awards recognised excellence across six disciplines through 20 competitive awards, spanning Heritage, Visual Arts and Craft, Design, Performing Arts, Audio Visual and Literary work.
Based in Pietermaritzburg, the KwaZulu-Natal Museum is one of South Africa’s leading museums, with collections covering zoology, palaeontology, archaeology, anthropology and cultural history.
For more than 100 years, the institution has served as a custodian of collections and knowledge, while working to make KwaZulu-Natal’s heritage accessible to the public.
Its role extends beyond its galleries. Through exhibitions, education programmes, research, public events and community outreach, the museum connects learners, communities and visitors with the province’s history, culture and natural environment.
Viranna Frank, the Museum’s chief public relations and marketing officer, described the award as an honour and a recognition of the people behind the institution’s work.
"Recognition of the dedication of our staff, researchers, educators, partners and stakeholders is invaluable. The museum is not simply a place where collections are kept or exhibitions built. It is a place where knowledge is created, where people learn, where heritage is preserved and where communities can connect with their history, culture and natural environment.
"This award belongs to everyone who contributes to the work of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. It is both a achievement and an encouragement to continue our work to ensure that heritage remains accessible and meaningful to future generations," said Frank.
She said the NACA application process required detailed information about their work, achievements, and the impact they have on their visitors and the communities they serve.
Its submission highlighted the institution’s public impact, education, research and preservation work during the 2025/26 eligibility period.
Among the achievements recorded were:
- 89,030 visitors, exceeding the annual target by more than 9,000.
- 3,472,470 people reached digitally, more than double the annual target.
- 58,940 learners participated in Museum education programmes.
- 96 schools participated in CAPS-aligned education and outreach.
- 48 public lectures, tours and society events were delivered.
- 9 peer-reviewed research publications, 2 accredited journal volumes and 4 research reports were produced.
- 4,996 collection items were accessioned.
- 9 temporary exhibitions were produced and 9 exhibition upgrades completed.
Frank said the figures demonstrated that the museum’s contribution could not be measured simply by the number of people who walked through its doors.
"These achievements are particularly useful because they demonstrate that the museum's contribution isn't limited to visitor numbers: it creates knowledge, preserves heritage, educates communities and makes that knowledge accessible to the public.
"The strongest measurable programme is the museum's education and outreach work, reaching nearly 59,000 learners across 96 schools. The programmes included guided tours, curriculum-linked workshops, science demonstrations and heritage education, making the museum an extension of classroom learning," said Frank.
The museum’s temporary exhibition programme was another key component of its NACA submission.
During the eligibility period, exhibitions explored a diverse range of subjects, including G20, Gender-Based Violence, The Art of Taxidermy, King Solomon kaDinuzulu and online Anti-Apartheid History.
The institution also completed nine exhibition upgrades, incorporating technological innovation to modernise older displays and improve the way visitors interact with collections and information.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za