Announcing the winners of our acknowledgement awards 2026
The competition attracted entries from across the UK, showcasing the many ways heritage projects thank National Lottery players, who make our funding possible.
First prize
Stockton Northern Gateway Townscape Heritage Project
The winner of this year's acknowledgement awards is the Stockton Northern Gateway Townscape Heritage Project for its heritage mosaic installation at 10-12 Norton Road on Stockton High Street.
Created by local sculptor Andy McKeown, the mosaic was unveiled as part of the wider townscape heritage project. The artwork features an inkwell, scissors, a tape measure and a musical note, reflecting the history and stories associated with the project.
As well as designing and installing the mosaic, Andy led a programme of mosaic making workshops involving 25 heritage volunteers and stakeholders. Participants took part in research, planning, design and production activities between October 2025 and April 2026, helping to raise awareness of local heritage and build new skills.
Judges were impressed by the project's combination of creativity, community involvement and strong connection to place. The mosaic creates a lasting public acknowledgement of the project while celebrating the history of the local area.
The Stockton Northern Gateway Townscape Heritage Project is a five-year, £2.9million scheme jointly funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
The project involves improvements to the historic environment at the northern end of Stockton High Street and is part of an ambitious regeneration programme to create vibrant, sustainable and inclusive places for residents, businesses and visitors.
The prize
We’re working with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to produce a social media film celebrating the project and their creative approach to thanking National Lottery players. The film will be released later this year.
Runners-up
Hyde Park Picture House
Hyde Park Picture House was awarded runner-up for its thoughtful and creative approach to acknowledgement.
Judges praised the use of storytelling to connect audiences with the cinema’s heritage and show the impact of National Lottery funding. The team at Hyde Park Picture House worked with a local creative studio to produce an oak acknowledgement stamp, designed to sit sensitively within the Grade II listed 1914 cinema building.
Further materials were created with local suppliers, helping to make sure acknowledgement was woven throughout the project in a way that felt authentic, considered and connected to the place.
Black Country Living Museum
Black Country Living Museum earned a runner-up spot for its striking and carefully designed acknowledgement. The unique steel structure was designed to complement the museum’s architecture. Its material takes inspiration from Brook Shaft mining structures that were common at the height of coal mining in the Black Country.
The museum worked with Midtherm Laser to create a freestanding mild steel acknowledgement structure which is situated outside the museum’s visitor centre and will weather naturally over time.
The plaque helps visitors understand the role of National Lottery players in supporting major investment in the museum between 2019 and 2026.
Hull Maritime
Hull Maritime was also recognised as a runner-up for its bespoke acknowledgement stamp, designed in keeping with the historic Spurn Lightship.
The acknowledgement plaque takes inspiration from the lightship’s painted metalwork and riveted design. The judges praised how the plaque had been sensitively developed to feel part of the vessel’s character.
The finished plaque celebrates the impact National Lottery players have on heritage, in this case supporting the restoration of Hull’s much loved 1927 vessel.
Congratulations to this year's winner and runners-up.
Need help planning your acknowledgement?
Every project we fund should acknowledge our support and thank the National Lottery players who make this possible. Find out how to do this by downloading our acknowledgement toolkit.
