The Art Fund, the Uk’s largest arts charity have announced the biggest prize for museums in the world with a special edition of The Museum of the Year Award, a week celebrating museums, running from 12 October 2020. The winner’s announcement was made on the One Show by Grayson Perry this evening.
It’s exciting that we can begin to visit our inspiring museums again, but just because the doors are reopening it doesn’t mean they are ok – JW
The winners include: Aberdeen Art Gallery (Aberdeen, Scotland) Gairloch Museum (Gairloch, Scotland) Science Museum (London, England) South London Gallery (London, England) Towner Eastbourne (Eastbourne, England)
Aberdeen Art Gallery, Gairloch Museum, Science Museum, South London Gallery, and Towner Eastbourne have been announced as winners of Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020 this evening (12 October 2020), the largest arts award in Britain and the most prestigious museum award in the world.
In a unique edition of the prize, Art Fund responded to the unprecedented challenges that all museums face this year by selecting five winners and increasing the prize money to £200,000, a 40% rise over previous years. The outstanding museums are recognised for their achievements in 2019 – 20: from bringing art to local audiences, moving to a repurposed nuclear bunker, redisplaying collections through a major refurbishment, making museums a community hub, opening new permanent galleries and championing under-represented artists.
Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said: “The winners are exceptional examples of museums offering inspiration, reflection and joy in the heart of communities. The UK’s museums – admired worldwide and vital locally – were thriving before Covid-19. They can help rebuild our communities and confidence as we emerge from the virus. But they face financial peril. Not only do we need sustained investment from the government, but we encourage everyone to go and explore their local museum – they need our support now.”
The judges, Jago Cooper (Curator of the Americas, The British Museum), Dame Liz Forgan (Trustee, Art Fund), Ryan Gander (artist), Melanie Keen (Director, The Wellcome Collection) and Jenny Waldman (Director, Art Fund), chose the museums for their achievements in 2019 – 20:
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Art Gallery is responsible for an exceptional collection of art and heritage, rightly celebrated as among the finest in the UK. 2019 marked the culmination of the most ambitious redevelopment project in the museum’s 135-year history, completely re-imagining the gallery so its extraordinary treasures and the stories they tell can be celebrated, shared and better understood. The judges were impressed with the scale and ambition of this project, which increased the number of works on show from 370 to 1080, the beautifully executed restoration, and the commitment to involve the people of the city in the future of this rediscovered jewel on their doorstep. They looked forward to seeing what the next 100-years would bring.
Gairloch Museum
The story of the rebirth of this truly special museum nestled on the remote north-westerly coast of Scotland captivated the judges; a tale of people-power, determination, and local pride. The museum’s move in 2019 to a new home – not a grand new build but a repurposed nuclear bunker – transformed a village eyesore into an important visitor attraction. It was the culmination of an 8- year, £2.4 million redevelopment project realised by this community and more than 120 volunteers. The redisplay of the museum’s collection which encapsulates the history, culture, beauty and character of Gairloch and its new home have reanimated the village’s pride in its heritage, created a buzzing new community hub, and produced a sustainable cultural landmark for generations of visitors to enjoy.
Science Museum
The Science Museum has undergone a profound transformation over a decade of thinking big, thinking local, and thinking radically. 2019 was a landmark year which saw the museum inspire the next generation of scientists with the culmination of Tim Peake’s spacecraft nationwide tour, its biggest-ever sleepover to mark the Apollo 11 anniversary, and the opening of two exceptional new permanent galleries – Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries and Science City 1550-1800: The Linbury
Gallery. The judges recognised the shift-change that had taken place in this well-known and much-respected institution, not only in its spaces but also in its relationship with its visitors and local communities. The museum has become the world’s leading destination for people to be excited, inspired and delighted by science.
South London Gallery
South London Gallery is a world-class contemporary art space, built for and with its culturally diverse communities. For more than 125 years it has stayed true to its aim, ‘to bring art to the people of south London’, evolving in response to the needs of artists and audiences and promoting inclusion at the heart of its mission. Alongside delivering an exciting programme of exhibitions and events, and a highly regarded free education programme, 2019 was a vitally important year for the gallery – the first since it doubled in size through the opening of a neighbouring site in an elegantly converted former Fire Station. The judges were impressed by the gallery’s integrity, creativity and inspiring leadership.
Towner Eastbourne
Towner Eastbourne, an art gallery on the East Sussex coast, has been collecting and exhibiting contemporary art for almost 100 years. Despite a funding cut Towner has redefined its purpose as a free and open community resource and launched a new vision to transform communities through art. 2019 marked the tenth birthday celebration of its ‘new’ building, and a dynamic fresh phase for the gallery, increasing its profile, securing financial sustainability and truly serving the needs of its intergenerational and diverse communities. The judges admired Towner Eastbourne’s genuine commitment to promoting under-represented artists in its programme and its newly cemented status as an invaluable asset to Eastbourne.
The Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020, recognising the challenges that museums faced this year, the prize money awarded will go up to a total of £200,000, a 40% increase over previous years, and be equally divided between five winning museums, chosen for their achievements in the year 2019-2020.The Judges for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020 were: Jago Cooper, Curator of the Americas, The British Museum; Dame Liz Forgan (Chair), Trustee, Art Fund; Ryan Gander, artist; Melanie Keen, Director, The Wellcome Collection; and Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund.
The week champions the UK’s museum sector, amongst the largest and most vibrant in the world. It will put the spotlight on museums with a varied programme of Art Fund events, debates and social activity – giving an opportunity to get involved at a time when they need us most.
There are around 2,500 museums in the UK, large and small, national and local, many of them free, featuring everything from art and design to science, military and industrial heritage, and natural and maritime history. They have a vital role to play in the recovery of the country but even as they re-open across the summer and autumn their future is uncertain. While the immediate response of public and other funders and the UK government’s rescue package for culture is welcome, museums’ finances have been shattered by closures and by the social distancing measures currently in place. They still face huge challenges in the months and years ahead.
Art Fund has already recognised the crisis in the museum’s sector, announcing funding and resources of more than £2 million to support museums and galleries through reopening and beyond at a time when many museums will be losing more money by opening their doors than remaining closed. It has also invited its members to come together to donate and support museums and galleries during the biggest challenge of our lifetime through the fundraising campaign #TogetherforMuseums.
Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund, said: “It’s exciting that we can begin to visit our inspiring museums again, but just because the doors are reopening it doesn’t mean they are ok. They can’t survive long-term with a fraction of visitors and they’re continuing to navigate the huge challenges of Covid-19. This exceptional edition of Art Fund Museum of the Year will shine a spotlight on the incredible value museums bring to communities across the UK.”
Art Fund Museum of the Year will continue its partnership with the BBC in 2020, with more coverage to be announced in due course.
Top Photo: © Artlyst
Read More About Past Museum Of The Year Awards