Shortlist announced for Museum of the Year

[ART FUND HAS announced five museums as finalists for its Museum of the Year 2021 – the world’s largest museum prize.

The shortlisted museums are the Centre for Contemporary Art in Derry-Londonderry, Experience in Barnsley, Firstsite in Colchester, the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds and Timespan in Helmsdale, northern Scotland.

According to Art Fund, this year’s list reflects the resilience and imagination of museums throughout the pandemic.

Announcing the finalists, the charity said: “At this moment of museums re-opening and starting their recovery, the 2021 prize highlights and rewards the extraordinary and innovative ways in which museums have, over the past year, served and connected with their communities, even when they have had to close their physical spaces.”

The judges will visit each of the finalists to help inform their decision-making, while each museum will make the most of being shortlisted over the summer through special events and activities for both new and current visitors.

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Art Fund director Jenny Waldman said: “Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021 attracted a flood of applications and it has been incredible to see what museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK have achieved, overcoming the challenges of the past year. Their resilience is nothing short of heroic.

“Our five finalists are all deeply embedded in their communities and alive to the possibilities of reaching far beyond their locality digitally. They have each shown extraordinary innovation and resolve. I would encourage everyone to visit them if they possibly can – in person or online – or make a beeline to a museum close to you this summer.”

The winning museum will be announced at a ceremony in the week commencing 20 September and will receive £100,000. The other four shortlisted museums will each receive £15,000 in recognition of their achievements. q

What the judges saw...

Centre for Contemporary Art, Derry-Londonderry

CCA creates opportunities for audiences to experience ambitious, experimental and engaging contemporary art, and for emerging artists to develop successful careers. It commissions new artworks, presents solo and group exhibitions, public programmes and artist residencies and has its own publishing programme. It is located in an interface area within the city walls and also provides a library/workshop and offsite and online activities.

Timespan, Helmsdale

Timespan is a cultural organisation in Helmsdale, a village of around 800 inhabitants in the north east of the Scottish Highlands. It comprises a local history museum, contemporary art programme, public archive, geology and herb gardens, shop, bakery and café. Timespan responds to urgent contemporary issues, which are rooted in the local context of remote, rural Scotland, approaching these from a global and multidisciplinary perspective. q

Experience Barnsley

Located in Barnsley Town Hall, Experience Barnsley opened in 2013 and is part of Barnsley museums. It traces the known history of Barnsley from pre-historic times to the 21st century. Its collection has developed over many years, created thanks to the thousands of local people who have shared precious memories and objects. Their generosity continues as they regularly donate items.

Firstsite, Colchester

Firstsite is the East of England’s contemporary visual arts organisation, based in the heart of the community in Colchester, where visitors can experience a diverse mix of the very best historic, modern and contemporary art from around the world, in a fun and inclusive environment. Firstsite’s curved building, designed by Rafael Vinoly, creates a unique environment – with a dramatic frontage leading through to stunning gallery and studio spaces and a state-of-the-art cinema.

Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds

The Thackray Museum of Medicine is the UK’s leading independent medical museum located between Europe’s largest teaching hospital and some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in West Yorkshire. It opened in 1997 and has its origins in a small family-run chemist shop, opened in 1902 by Charles Thackray in Leeds. Charles’s grandson, Paul, established the museum to enable the wider public to learn more about the story of medicine.