The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum has been selected for the long list for its exhibition on the transatlantic slave trade. Courtesy BECM

The major museum openings of the year sit alongside powerful commemorations of the abolition of the slave trade and a Devon museum project led entirely by volunteers on the prestigious Art Fund Prize long list for 2008.

Announced on January 31, ten UK museums and galleries are up for the £100,000 award, previously the Gulbenkian Prize. The prize recognises the museum or gallery project that demonstrates the most originality, imagination and excellence of the last year, with entrants including rebuilt venues and unique exhibitions.

“We’re going to have an exciting and absorbing time visiting all ten museums and galleries,” said Sue MacGregor OBE, Chair of the judges. “Some of them are relatively small – Orkney’s Pier Arts Centre or Woking’s ultra modern Lightbox museum for instance.”

“Others are huge and all-embracing, like the Wellcome Collection of the History of Medicine in London, or tightly focused, like the soldiers’ own version of the conflict in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, at the National Army Museum.”

The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney, has been refurbished as a modern space on the water's edge. Courtesy Pier Arts Centre

The long-listed museums and galleries are:

• The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol, for ‘Breaking the Chains’ – an exhibition commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade that focuses on the human stories of the enslaved people.

• The British Library, London, for ‘Sacred – Discover What We Share’ – a highly acclaimed exhibition bringing together the world’s greatest collection of Jewish, Christian and Islamic holy texts for the first time.

• International Slavery Museum, Liverpool – a new museum uncovering the issues behind the transatlantic slave trade, from identity to racism and cultural change.

From Helmand: The Soldiers' Story at the National Army Museum. Photo Richard Moss © 24 Hour Museum, courtesy National Army Museum

• Lightbox gallery and museum, Woking – a new contemporary space combining an innovative presentation of local history with a dynamic display of modern art.

• London Transport Museum – a £22m transformation of one of the capital’s most well-known cultural attractions, which explores the link between transport and London society since 1800.

• The National Army Museum, London, for ‘Helmand: The Soldiers’ Story’ – a unique exhibition created by soldiers, exploring the British army’s first campaign in the Taleban heartland of Afghanistan, Helmand Province.

From Sacred at the British Library. Leipnik Haggadah, King David at prayer, 1740. © British Library

• The Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, Orkney – a redesigned centre on a historic harbourside, containing a remarkable collection of 20th century British art.

• Shetland Museum and Archives, Lerwick, Shetland – a newly opened venue set in a restored 19th century dock, telling the story of Britain’s most northerly group of islands from geological beginnings to the present day.

• Topsham Museum, Exeter, for the River Gallery project – a new gallery at the volunteer-run museum, housing historic local boats and displays on the history of the Exe Estuary.

• Wellcome Collection, London – a groundbreaking new space devoted to the connections between medicine and art, with more than 1,500 exhibits spanning six centuries.

More space on the ground floor allows for better and more informed displays at the refurbished London Transport Museum. Courtesy London Transport Museum

“Eventually, ten must be whittled down to one – but I know we’ll all have been bowled over by the imagination and inspiration we’ve encountered on the way,” continued broadcaster Ms MacGregor.

Also on the judging panel, are Keith Khan (Head of Culture for the London 2012 Games), Diane Lees (Director, V&A Museum of Childhood), Christopher Lloyd CVO (former surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures), Dr Mark Miodownik (Head of Materials Research Group, King’s College London), Maggie Semple OBE (Chief Executive of The Experience Corps Ltd and Emma Soames (Editor, Saga Magazine).

The winner of the prize will be announced in May. Previous winners include Pallant House Gallery, Chichester and Big Pit, the National Mining Museum of Wales.

“The Art Fund is determined to encourage more people to explore the museum collections that we work so hard to enrich,” commented David Barrie, Director of The Art Fund. “I’m delighted that we are able to support this important prize which recognises the most imaginative, innovative and popular developments of the previous year.”

For more information, see www.artfundprize.org.uk.