'How to Draw a Dinosaur' has now been nationally recognised. Pictured is the 'Sexy Rexy' sculpture by Matthew Aberline and the Beautiful and Useful Studio adorning the outside of the Tweed Regional Museum when the exhibition was on display in 2024/2025 (Image Sam Townsend).
Tweed Regional Museum's groundbreaking exhibition How to Draw a Dinosaur has been recognised on the national stage, winning the Australian Museums and Galleries Association's Exhibition Excellence Award 2026 (Small Budget) on Tuesday 3 November.
The award celebrates outstanding exhibitions developed with limited resources and acknowledges the Museum's innovative approach to combining science, art and technology to engage audiences of all ages.
The exhibition explored how scientists and artists work together to imagine what dinosaurs may have looked like, using authentic fossil material alongside contemporary artworks, illustration, projection and interactive experiences.
Tweed Shire Mayor, Reece Byrnes said the award was a proud moment for the Tweed community and recognition of the creativity and expertise of the Museum team.
"This national award reflects the exceptional work being undertaken at the Tweed Regional Museum and demonstrates that the Tweed continues to deliver world-class experiences," Cr Brynes said.
"How to Draw a Dinosaur, while being a favourite with families, captivated visitors of all ages. It attracted new audiences to the Museum and showcased the Tweed as a destination for creative and cultural experiences."
The exhibition generated outstanding results, with visitation increasing by 131 per cent during its run. More than half of visitors were attending the Museum for the first time, while 41 per cent travelled from outside the Tweed Shire. Beyond visitation to the Museum's 4 walls, the exhibition also saw an online increase in reach across key platforms of 891 per cent.
Tweed Regional Museum Acting Director Erika Taylor said the exhibition was designed to challenge traditional assumptions about museum experiences.
Rather than presenting a single authoritative answer, the exhibition invited visitors to engage with the unknown and use their imagination," she said.
"We wanted people to explore the fascinating space between scientific evidence and creative interpretation. Dinosaurs spark curiosity across generations, making them the perfect subject to bring together science, art and storytelling."
The exhibition featured works by internationally recognised artists and paleo-illustrators, alongside large-scale projection installations within the Museum and on the Tweed River.
In announcing the award, judges praised the exhibition as an ambitious and engaging regional project that delivered remarkable results on a modest budget.
Judges noted the exhibition's success in combining science, contemporary art and interactive participation, while encouraging visitors to consider both what we know and what we don't know about dinosaurs.
They also highlighted the exhibition's strong audience outcomes and subsequent regional tour, describing it as a model for regional and smaller museums.
Following its success in Tweed, the exhibition secured Create NSW Regional Touring funding and is now touring regional New South Wales, giving audiences across the state the opportunity to experience the award-winning exhibition. The tour opens at Newcastle Museum on 12 December.
