Eleven Museums and Galleries Long-Listed for £100,000 Art Fund Prize 2010

A long list of eleven museums and galleries are in the running to win the £100,000 Art Fund Prize, the UK’s largest single arts prize. The long list has been selected by a panel of Judges chaired this year by broadcaster Kirsty Young. Traditionally the long list comprises ten, but for the 2010 Prize eleven institutions are nominated, attesting to the high quality and volume of applications received.

The £100,000 prize is awarded to the museum or gallery for a project completed in the last year, that the Judges deem demonstrates the most originality, imagination and excellence. The Prize, which has been sponsored by the UK’s leading independent art charity, The Art Fund, for three years, aims to increase public appreciation and enjoyment of the UK’s museums and galleries.

The eleven long-listed museums and galleries are:

• The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
• Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
• Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle
• Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, for Henry VIII: heads and hearts
• The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry
• The Leach Pottery, St Ives
• The National Army Museum, London, for Conflicts of Interest
• The Natural History Museum, London, for the Darwin Centre
• The Royal Institution of Great Britain, for Science in the Making
• Towner, Eastbourne
• The Ulster Museum, Belfast

Kirsty Young, Chair of the Judges comments: “My fellow Judges and I deliberated passionately and at length, and even then it was impossible to select fewer than eleven for the long list. The quality of applications was simply outstanding. We are delighted with our selection and feel that this year’s long list demonstrates a snapshot of the UK’s incredible cultural offerings".

Stephen Deuchar, Director of The Art Fund, comments: “This year’s long-listed museums and galleries have shown such depth of imagination and drive; they are a testament to the wealth of culture on offer right across the UK. I for one can’t wait to see how the judges’ journeys unfold from now until the end of June when the winner is announced".

The Judges will travel the UK to visit each of the eleven long-listed museums and galleries before selecting a short list of four, to be announced at the end of May 2010. The winner of the £100,000 prize will be announced on Wednesday 30 June 2010 at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

The 2010 judging panel comprises:

• Kirsty Young (Chairman), broadcaster
• Kathy Gee, museums and heritage adviser
• Professor A C Grayling, Professor of Philosophy, Birkbeck College, London
• Professor J Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics, University College London
• Sally Osman, communications consultant and former Director of Communications, BBC
• Lars Tharp, Director, The Foundling Museum and BBC Antiques Roadshow expert
• Jonathan Yeo, artist

The public can vote for their favourite long-listed institution and leave comments for the Judges on the Art Fund Prize website telling the Judges why they should win. The poll results and online comments will be given to the Judges for their consideration when selecting the Short List and Winner. Visitors to the website can enter an exclusive competition to win a limited edition Jonathan Yeo print.

To vote, comment or for more information about the Prize go to: www.artfundprize.org.uk