Five museums, including the Craven Museum in Skipton, Yorkshire, and Dundee Contemporary Arts have been selected for the shortlist for the UK’s Art Fund Museum of the Year prize, worth ₤120,000.
The winner, to be selected by a five-member jury, will be announced on 10 July. The shortlisted institutions include the National Portrait Gallery in London, which was commended in a press release for a revamp that presents “a more inclusive and dynamic picture of the people who have contributed to the U.K.’s rich history;” Young V&A, which reopened in 2023 after an extensive overhaul, was praised for its “ambitious approach to child-centred museum experiences and thoughtful consideration of audience needs.”
The Manchester Museum also features on the shortlist, having “undergone a transformation designed to bring communities together and building understanding between cultures,” the release said. The museum hosts around 4.5 million objects from natural science and human cultures.
The Craven Museum is described as a “modern multi-arts cultural hub on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales,” which succeeded in programming free or low-cost activities for families every day of the 2023 school holidays.
Dundee Contemporary Arts was applauded for its diverse exhibition programming and its role as lead partner of Art Night Dundee, a major contemporary art festival in June 2023 that attracted 15,000 visitors.
The four runners-up will each win ₤15,000. Last year’s prize-winner was the Burrell Collection in Glasgow.