24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
Gulbenkian Prize Longlist Announced - 24HM Reader's Vote Launched
By 24 Hour Museum Staff
01/02/2007
Image: a photograph of an atmospherically lit bowl
The enamelled silver prize bowl designed by award-winning metalwork artist, Vladimir Böhm - the winning institution will hold on to it for a year. Courtesy The Gulbenkian Prize.
The voting for the 2007 Readers' Poll for the Gulbenkian Prize is now closed
The long list of contenders for Britain’s biggest arts prize, the Gulbenkian Prize for Museums and Galleries, was announced on February 2 2007 and contains its usual array of entries - from a new museum aquarium to an exhibition about prostitution.
First prize will go to the museum or gallery judged to have completed the most worthy innovation in the last year - they will also scoop £100,000. Last year’s winner, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s ship, ss Great Britain in Bristol, has enjoyed a 40% increase in visitors in the last year and has just been short-listed for the European Museum of the Year award.
24 Hour Museum has been supporting the prize since its inception in 2003 and once again this year we are asking readers to vote for the museum or gallery they would like to see win the prize. See the bottom of this story for voting links.
Over the next two weeks we will be profiling all of the long-listed museums. Our votes won't sway the jury but we promise to tell them about the public's views.
Image: a photograph of a large boat taken from the bow
2006 Gulbenkian Winner, ss Great Britain. © ss Great Britain
The Prize is given annually to one museum or gallery anywhere in the UK, and is open to a wide range of projects, both large and small. This year’s long list includes engaging art and design, exceptionally high-quality collections, and substantial specialist archive holdings.
“This year’s long list shows great variety and contrast,” said Francine Stock, Chair of the judging panel, “from a textile study collection to a substantial metropolitan museum, from a dedicated library and a spectacular National museum exhibition to a stylish and enterprising arts centre."
"We were hugely impressed by the way these entries seek to engage audiences. This is a truly inspiring long list and the next stage of our judging process will be a really tough challenge.”
A shortlist of four museums will be announced in early April 2007. The winner will be announced on Thursday May 24 at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London during Museum and Galleries Month 2007.
This year’s long list in alphabetical order:
Braintree District Museum for the Warner Textile Archive, Essex
A unique record of the manufacture and design of textiles over the past 200 years, housed in the original 19th century mill where most of the textiles were created.
Image: a photograph of the inside of a gallery
The Warner Textile Archive is housed in the original mill where many of the textiles were created. © Braintree Museum
De La Warr Pavilion for its re-launch, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
One of the world's finest examples of Modernist architecture, now a leading centre for contemporary art, architecture, education and live performance.
Image: a photograph of a glass and concrete pavilion structure looking out to see
View from De La Warr Pavilion, south terrace. © Bridget Smith
Horniman Museum for their new Aquarium, London
An inventive and innovative display of exotic fish and other sea creatures, aimed at young museum visitors. It has attracted over 110,000 visitors in its first five months.
Image: a photograph of a man loking through a glass aquarium
Horniman Aquarium Curator Kerwin Porter. © Horniman Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum for their New Century Project, Glasgow
A £28m project to restore and re-display Glasgow’s magnificent civic art gallery and museum, creating a universal space for the 21st century.
Image: a photograph of a spitfire aeroplane suspended in an ornate hallway
Spitfire LA198 hangs from the roof of Kelvingrove's west court. © Glasgow City Council (Museums)
Kew Palace, Historic Royal Palaces, Surrey
Restoration of King George III’s country retreat and Britain’s smallest royal palace, revealing rooms that have not been seen for 200 years.
Image: a photograph of a large terracotta Georgian building
Kew Palace exterior, showing the lift built on the site of the former Privy shaft. © Historic Royal Palaces / newsteam.co.uk
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, West Sussex
Contemporary building space combined with a Grade I listed Queen Anne townhouse to exhibit one of the world’s best 20th century British art collections.
Image: a photograph of a terrace garden next to a modern building extension
The Grade I Listed Pallant House Gallery now has a state of the art gallery extension on it. © Pallant House Gallery
Scotland & Medicine: Collections & Connections, Scotland
This is a unique partnership between all the major medical collections in Scottish museums, libraries and archives, led by Surgeon's Hall Museum in Edinburgh. Through a highly popular touring exhibition, Anatomy Acts, a website, and joint marketing, this initiative has opened up these collections to new audiences in Scotland and the rest of the world.
Image: an old painting showing an anatomy lesson
John Bannister lecturing on anatomy, part of the story of medicine in Scotland brought together in an innovative museum collaboration. © Glasgow University Special Collections
V&A for The Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art, London
This stunning gallery displays some 400 objects of exquisite beauty. This is one of the most extensive and renowned collections of Islamic art in the world.
Image: a photograph of a gallery interior with a large carpet inside a glass case
Jameel Gallery looking south towards the Ardabil carpet and the minbar of Sultan Qa'itbay, made for a mosque in Cairo. © Richard Waite
Weston Park Museum, Sheffield
£19m transformation to create an accessible, welcoming and vibrant place of culture and learning, attracting 55,000 visitors, including school and community groups, in the first 15 days of opening.
The What On Earth Galleries at Weston Park showcase the city's famous natural history collection. © Sheffield Museums Trust
The Women's Library for the exhibition, ‘Prostitution: What’s Going On?’ London Metropolitan University, London
A provocative exhibition and events programme marking the centenary of the death of Josephine Butler, the Victorian social reformer and campaigner for the rights of prostituted women.
Prostitution - What's Going On? A hard hitting and important exhibition at the Women's Library. Photo © Rachel Hayward / 24 Hour Museum
Visiting the ten shortlisted museums and arguing about the shortlist and eventual winner is a judging panel that represents a wide range of artistic, scientific and academic interests and museum experience. As well as author and broadcaster Francine Stock as chair, it comprises:
Tristram Besterman - museum consultant, former director of Manchester Museum
Richard Calvocoressi – Director of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh, Director-elect of the Henry Moore Foundation
Jonathan Glancey - The Guardian’s Architecture and Design Editor
Dr Mark Miodownik – materials scientist, head of the Materials Research Group at King's College London, Director of the Materials Library
Dan Snow - historian and broadcaster
Mohini Sule – cultural broadcaster for programmes including BBC Culture Show and The People’s Museum
Image: a photograph of the gulbenkian prize vase
The 24 Hour Museum Gulbenkian Prize People's Vote!
Judges are now in the process of visiting the museums shortlisted for the UK’s largest arts prize, the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year. Here at the 24 Hour Museum, we want to know who you think should win the prize.
Click on one of the links below to vote for the shortlisted museum you think should receive the £100,000 prize.
To vote for Braintree District Museum in Essex, click here.
To vote for De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, click here.
To vote for Horniman Museum in London, click here.
To vote for Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow, click here.
To vote for Kew Palace in Surrey, click here.
To vote for Pallant House Gallery in West Sussex, click here.
To vote for Scotland & Medicine in Edinburgh, click here.
To vote for The Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art at the V&A in London, click here
To vote for Weston Park Museum in Sheffield, click here
To vote for The Women's Library in London click here
Braintree District Museum
Town Hall Centre Gallery, Market Place, Braintree, CM7 3YG, Essex, England
Open: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm including Bank Holidays.
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea
Marina, Bexhill on Sea, TN40 1DP, East Sussex, England
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ, England
Open: Open daily: 1030-1730
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG, Strathclyde, Scotland
T: 0141 276 9599
Open: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am to 5pm
Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage
Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, Surrey, England
Open: Kew Palace reopens this year on 24 March 2007 and will be open daily until 28 October (inclusive). Open hours are 10:00 - 18:00 Tuesday to Sundays (last admission 1700) and 11:00 - 18:00 on Mondays (last admission 1700).
Queen Charlotte's Cottage is open on selected dates during the summer months, please see www.hrp.org.uk for more information.
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ, West Sussex, England
Open: Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00
Thurs 10.00-20.00
Sun & Bank Holiday Monday 12.30-17.00
Closed: All Day Mondays
25,26 December, 1 January
Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2RL, England
Open: Daily 1000-1745
Fri 1000-2200
Closed: 24-26 December
Surgeons' Hall Museums, Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 18 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW, Lothian, Scotland
Open: Monday - Friday, noon - 4pm
Summer opening hrs 2008: 1 Aug - 7 Sept, Monday - Friday 10am -4pm, Saturday & Sunday, noon - 4pm
Weston Park Museum, Sheffield
Weston Park Museum, Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust, Leader House, Surrey Street, Sheffield, S1 2LH, South Yorkshire, England
T: 0114 278 2655
Open: Mon- Sat 10am- 5pm
and Sun 11am-5pm
The Women's Library
The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, 25 Old Castle Street, London, E1 7NT, England
Open: Exhibition Opening hours
Mon-Wed & Fri 9.30-17.30
Thurs 9.30-20.00
Sat 10.00-16.00
Sun Closed
Reading Room Opening hours
Mon Closed
Tues, Wed & Fri 9.30-17.00
Thurs 9.30-20.00
Sat 10.00-16.00
Sun Closed
Closed: The Women's Library, as part of London Metropolitan University, closes for brief periods over the Easter and Christmas holidays. It has an annual Closed Week for stocktaking and essential Library work. This is usually the first week of September. It is closed on Saturdays during the month of August. Please check our website for details.
Related Articles
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
The History Of Women's Magazines At The Women's Library
News In Brief - Museums, Galleries And Heritage News
Turner Prize Nominee Comes To Chichester's Pallant House Gallery
Eileen Agar: An Eye For Collage At Pallant House Gallery
Sheffield's Weston Park Museum Hosts Lauren Child's Works
12 Seaside Towns To Benefit From £4.5m Government Sea Change Funding
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
Sheffield Metal Master Wins Museum's Inaugural Design Award
DCMS Launches Consultation Into The Future Of World Heritage Sites
Royal Society Announces Plans For 350th Anniversary
Art Website ArtisanCam Wins Children's BAFTA
Former Floorboards Of Founding Father Franklin Facilitate Funny Four
Mark Leckey Wins The 2008 Turner Prize And Scoops £25,000
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long-Standing Campaign For Cardiff City Museum
Culture Secretary Slaps Export Ban On George I Chandelier
Shakespeare's Globe Costumes Go On Show In Nottingham
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Campaign To Save Captain Scott's Hut Needs Another £65,000
Open Air Lab Project Launches At The Natural History Museum
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.