Art Fund, the UK’s national charity for art, has announced the shortlist of the five museums selected as finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023, the world’s largest museum prize.
The shortlisted museums are:
- The Burrell Collection (Glasgow)
- Leighton House (London)
- The MAC (Belfast)
- Natural History Museum (London)
- Scapa Flow Museum (Orkney)
Natural History Museum (c) ianVisits
The 2023 edition celebrates 10 years of Art Fund Museum of the Year, a prize grounded in 50 years of history championing the UK’s 2,500 museums, galleries and heritage sites.
The winning museum will be announced at a ceremony at the British Museum in London on 12th July and will receive £120,000, specially increased for 2023 and beyond to mark 120 years of Art Fund supporting museums. In addition, £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists – bringing the total prize money to £180,000.
The 2023 judging panel, chaired by Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, includes:
- Larry Achiampong, artist;
- Mary Beard, historian and broadcaster;
- Abadesi Osunsade, Art Fund Trustee, author and owner of Hustle Crew;
- Laura Pye, Director, National Museums Liverpool
The judges will visit each of the finalists to inform their decision-making, while each museum will make the most of being shortlisted over the summer through events and activities for new and current visitors.
Speaking on behalf of the judges, Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund said, “The five Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023 finalists are at the top of their game, offering inspirational collections and programmes for their communities, for visitors from across the UK and around the world. From transformational redevelopment to community involvement to addressing the major issues of today, the shortlisted museums may operate at very different scales, but all show astonishing ambition and boundless creativity. Each is a blueprint for future innovation in museums. Visit them if you possibly can.”
The prize is funded by Art Fund’s members who buy a National Art Pass. Pass holders enjoy discounts and benefits at the shortlisted museums and hundreds more.
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