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London's Art Fund Prize Entrants Say 'Love Your London Museum!'

By Caroline Lewis

14/03/2008

Image: photo of a woman in 1930s dress in the wooden doorway of an early 20th century train

The 1930s housewife would come from suburbia to central London for a day out. © London Transport Museum

The four museums in the capital all on the longlist for the Art Fund Prize 2008 are coming together for a ‘Love Your London Museum!’ day.

On Saturday March 15, each of the city museums competing for the £100,000 prize are calling on Londoners to pledge their support for their favourite with special events.

Image: photo of an open book of illuminated manuscripts

Sacred at the British Library showed visitors what Christianity, Judaism and Islam share. © British Library

Visitors are invited to join the Paras at the National Army Museum; a giant jelly baby at the Wellcome Collection; a 1930s housewife at the London Transport Museum; and to marvel at holy books at the British Library.

The British Library has been nominated for its Sacred exhibition, and will showcase highlights of the acclaimed display that brought together great Jewish, Christian and Islamic texts for the first time. (Display open from 10am to 5pm.)

Image: photo of several desert camouflage jackets hanging in a row on hooks

The Paras helped to create the exhibition on living and working in Helmand Privince. © National Army Museum

At the London Transport Museum, a 1930s housewife will enthuse about one of the museum’s most popular features – its collection of classic transport posters. The 1930s was a real heyday for the posters, when they attracted the new class of London suburbanites onto the Tube into central London for a day out. (Event runs from 10.30am to 4pm.)

Paras and engineers from 16 Air Assault Brigade will be on hand at the National Army Museum to answer questions about the exhibition they helped to create about living and fighting in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It’s the last time they will come to the Art Fund Prize-nominated exhibition before they return to the front line in one of the world’s most dangerous combat zones. (Event runs from 10am to 4.30pm.)

Image: photo of a giant shiny jelly baby

The giant jelly baby. Let's hope it doesn't get eaten! © Wellcome Collection

Possibly the most peculiar choice of events is the giant 4ft (1.2m) jelly baby who will be greeting visitors to the Wellcome Collection on Saturday. The Collection will be asking the public for their favourite exhibits from the 1,500 on display at the medical science museum – will the jelly baby be one? Families can also try out the new Young Explorers Pack.

The shortlist for the Art Fund Prize will be announced in April, and the winner on May 22 2008, as part of Museums and Galleries Month.

Find out about these and the other six longlisted museums from around the UK, then vote for your favourite in the 24 Hour Museum Art Fund Prize People’s Vote.

British Library, London
British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB, England

T: 020 7412 7332
Open: Mon, Wed-Fri 0930-1800 Tues 0930-2000 Sat 0930-1700 Sun and English Public Holidays 1100-1700
Closed: 24 - 28 December 2007 1 January 2007 Closing at 17.00 23 and 29 - 31 December 2007

London Transport Museum
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB, England

T: 020 7565 7299
Open: Sat-Thurs 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:15) Fri11:00-21:00 (last admission 20:15)

National Army Museum
Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT, England

T: 020 7730 0717 ext. 2210 / 2235
Open: Daily 1000-1730
Closed: 24-26 December, 1 January, Good Friday, early May bank holiday.

Wellcome Collection, London
183 Euston Road, London, London, NW1 2BE, England

Open: Mon 10.00-18.00 (galleries closed, except public holidays) Tues 10.00-18.00 (Library until 20.00) Wed 10.00-18.00 Thurs 10.00-22.00 (Library until 20.00) Fri 10.00-18.00 Sat 10.00-18.00 (Library until 16.00) Sun 11.00-18.00 (Library closed)
Closed: Closed 24-26 December

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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.

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