Art Fund prize shortlist
Ruthin Craft Centre exterior
The shortlist for the Art Fund Prize for Museums and Galleries has just been announced and, in an important fillip for the sector, includes two leading craft venues
These are the newly-revamped Ruthin Craft Centre in Denbighshire and the Wedgewood Museum at Stoke-on-Trent.
Ruthin was selected by the judges for ‘the excellence of the Centre’s exhibitions and publications programme and by the energy and enthusiasm of its small team’. The North Wales gallery was re-opened last year after a major renovation programme, which included building new gallery and education space designed by architects Sergison Bates. Since then it has held an impressive programme of crafts exhibitions, including high-profile group shows such as Age of Experience and smaller, thought-provoking solo shows exploring specific maker’s work in greater detail.
Wedgwood Museum tells the story of the great ceramics entrepreneur and how his brand developed from its earliest days through to its global domination of recent years. It was shortlisted because the judges felt it ‘represented a collection and archive of national importance, beautifully and intelligently housed and displayed, yet with its roots firmly in its local place and community.’
The other two contenders for the £100,000 prize are Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow and the community museum at Orleans House, Twickenham. The four were chosen from a long list of 10 and now the public get to vote online for their favourite venue – the results of the online poll will count as an extra vote alongside those of the seven judges. The winner will be announced on 18 June.
www.artfund.org
