No doubt assisted by our own modest support [*ahem* – Ed], the recently renovated Ulster Museum in Belfast, which re-opened in October 2009, has been shortlisted for UK’s largest single arts prize – the £100,000 Art Fund Prize. From the BBC report.
Dr Jim McGreevy of National Museums Northern Ireland, said the museum had attracted “fabulous support from many visitors and via the online vote”.
“We are grateful for the enthusiasm of the Northern Ireland public in helping get us to the final shortlist,” Dr McGreevy said.
“The online voting is now open again and we encourage everyone to add their voice to our shared bid to bring this prize to Northern Ireland.”
The other contenders for the prize are: the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge; and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.
The online poll has now re-opened for the shortlisted candidates. If you haven’t already voted you can do so here.
Voting and comments for the Short List will close on 18 June 2010 at 5pm. The winner will be announced on 30 June.
And the National Museums Northern Ireland & Haley Sharpe Design project, Opening up the Ulster Museum, has already won an award – the 2010 Museums & Heritage Show’s Permanent Exhibition Award for Excellence. And another museum on the Art Fund Prize short-list was also in the running for that too. From the press statement [word doc]
Amongst this year’s winners is the redevelopment of the Ulster Museum, which beat off incredibly stiff competition in the form The Ashmolean and Natural History Museum’s Cocoon to scoop the ‘best actor’ equivalent; The Permanent Exhibition Award. The judges were particularly impressed by Ulster Museum’s very striking interpretive mix, which has successfully ensured that the museum’s objects serve the narrative and are not subordinate to the surrounding architecture.
