Kelvingrove nominated for UK best museum award

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, in Glasgow, has been named as a finalist for the annual Art Fund Prize.

It will be competing with the likes of the Baltic in Gateshead, the William Morris Gallery in London and the Hepworth Wakefield arts centre in Yorkshire.

Kelvingrove, which has been nominated twice previously for the “Museum of the Year” prize, previously known as the Gulbenkian Prize, is the only Scottish contender this year.

Three attractions north of the border made the shortlist last year - the new Riverside Museum in Glasgow, and the revamped National Museum of Scotland and Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

However it was eventually won by the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, in Exeter.

Kelvingrove’s bid is built around the huge success of the attraction since a £35 million revamp was completed seven years ago.

Among the recent highlights of its programme have been exhibitions devoted to the “Glasgow Boys” artists, rock icons AC/DC and a major celebration of Italian art.

Kelvingrove is currently Scotland’s third busiest attraction, after the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle, recording 1.03 million visitors in 2012, up 5.8 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Archie Graham, the chair of Glasgow Life, which runs Kelvingrove on behalf of the city council, said: “Kelvingrove continues to be one of Scotland’s most visited attractions, with more than 10 million visitors since we reopened our doors in 2006. That is no accident. We work incredibly hard providing temporary exhibitions, spectacular events and classes that really do offer something for everyone.

“We understand that our programme should be as diverse as the citizens who own this great museum. That sentiment is reflected in our current exhibition which examines Scotland’s role in bringing football to the world.

“We’re delighted to be the only Scottish museum named as a finalist for this year’s award.”

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: “The quality and diversity of the UK’s museums and galleries is truly exceptional and the job of this prize is to draw attention to that. As the national charity for art, we hope that by shining a light on the ten finalists we’ll encourage people to visit and celebrate these bright beacons of culture across the UK.”

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on 4 June.