V&A up for Museum of the Year prize

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V&A

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The V&A has had a record-breaking year

London’s Victoria and Albert (V&A) is one of five museums nominated for this year’s £100,000 Art Fund Prize.

The Art Fund awards its museum of the year prize to an establishment which has “shown exceptional imagination, innovation and achievement”.

The others shortlisted are Bethlem Museum of the Mind in London, Bristol’s Arnolfini, Edinburgh’s Jupiter Artland and York Art Gallery.

The winner will be announced on 6 July at the Natural History Museum.

Last year the prize was awarded to the Whitworth in Manchester.

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said this year’s shortlist showed “why and how UK museums lead the world”.

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V&A

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The Savage Beauty exhibition dedicated to the designs of Alexander McQueen was a huge success

“Each one of these five museums is outstanding – not just for the collections they display, but for the people who work there, and the visitors whose lives they can change,” Mr Deuchar continued.

“Whether reaching audiences of thousands or millions, the best museums turn objects into culture, put audiences at the heart of their work, and engage with issues of the moment.”

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Bethlehem Museum of the Mind

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Bethlem Museum of the Mind holds an extensive collection of archives, art and historic objects relating to the history of mental health care and treatment

The V&A has long been considered one of the UK’s – and the world’s – foremost museums of art and design and a leading visitor attraction as a result.

And the last 12 months has proved a record-breaking year for the establishment, pulling in 3.9 million visitors, and a further 14.5 million online visitors.

This success has been largely due to a major gallery restoration project and sell-out exhibitions such as a Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in celebration of the innovative designer who died in 2010, which attracted a record-breaking 493,043 visitors from 87 countries.

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Jupiter Artland

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Jupiter Artland is established in a manor house with extensive grounds ideal for showcasing impressive art works

Its 2013 hit David Bowie Is retrospective, which embarked on a global tour after its London run, notched up its millionth visitor in Paris in May.

Other highlights have included a major show of Indian textiles and a worldwide touring programme for the V&A’s Museum of Childhood.

The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is described by the Art Fund as “extraordinary”. It holds an extensive collection of archives, art and historic objects relating to the history of mental health care and treatment.

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Arnolfini

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The Arnolfini in Bristol is described as ‘a pioneer of the interdisciplinary contemporary arts’

It was opened by the Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry in 2015.

Jupiter Artland is an award-winning sculpture collection on the outskirts of Edinburgh. A charity, it focuses on nurturing the work of contemporary artists and commissioning site-specific work for its 100-acres of woodland and meadow.

The museum was established in 1999 by art collectors Robert and Nicky Wilson within Bonnington House, a Jacobean manor with extensive grounds. The couple’s aim was partly to find a space to allow the public to share in their own private collection of art.

The Arnolfini in Bristol is described as “a pioneer of the interdisciplinary contemporary arts”. It prides itself on a wide-ranging remit taking in visual art, performance, dance, film and music.

Sited dramatically in a repurposed warehouse on the city’s harbourside, Arnolfini welcomes half a million visitors each year, to experience works of art by local, national and international artists.

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York Art Gallery

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York Art Gallery reopened in August after an £8m development which increased its exhibition space by 60%

Its credited with helping regenerate Bristol’s harbourside and in 2015 it embarked on its own renovation venture, boosting its visitor numbers in the process.

Lastly, the York Art Gallery was built in 1879 and is now home to a nationally designated collection spanning 600 years.

In August 2015 the gallery reopened after an £8m development which increased its exhibition space by 60%, allowing significant artworks and exhibitions to be brought to the city, including ceramics and art dedicated to World War One.

The five finalists were whittled down from a longlist of 10, following visits by the judges.

The Art Fund is independently financed with the core of its income provided by 122,000 members. Its main work is in grant-giving and supporting the UK’s art establishments, small and large.

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