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Brunel Museum draws multi-sector acclaim for escape room innovation during pandemic

Tunnelling Through Time, an online escape room experience produced in collaboration between the Brunel Museum and Deadlocked Escape Rooms, has been shortlisted for recognition at the Southwark Business Awards.

The game, which invites players to complete a number of tasks pertaining to the museum’s content, has seen the institution nominated in the Business Pivot Award category of the Southwark Business Awards.

“Pivot to digital is an oft-quoted phrase from the pandemic, but Tunnelling Through Time is an amazing example of what can happen when two businesses accustomed to delivering face-to-face activity are suddenly forced to close,” notes Katherine McAlpine, director of the Brunel Museum.

The project was made possible courtesy of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, administered by Arts Council England, and emergency funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and Southwark Council. The ongoing Covid-19 Crisis Appeal, established by the museum’s trustees, also raised almost £5,000 in just three months.


Want to know more about Tunnelling through Time and the Brunel Museum’s broader work to diversify its offer? Katherine McAlpine discussed the organisation’s work as part of The Digital Dilemma session in the Museums + Heritage Summer Series. Click here to register for on-demand access to the panel discussion.


The category the Brunel Museum has been shortlisted in will be decided by a public vote, with the winner announced at an awards ceremony later in 2021. Voting is open until 17th September.

“The past 12 to 18 months have been incredibly challenging for businesses large and small. As such, we feel it is important to recognise the vital contribution these businesses make to the local community and beyond,” says Justin Tibaldi, divisional managing director of Berkeley Homes, one of the Awards ceremony’s sponsors.