The 2022 prize will be more important than ever in championing the UK’s vital museums, and Art Fund is seeking applications from organisations whose achievements tell the story of the creativity and resilience of the sector, with a particular focus on engaging audiences of today and the future in ways that can be sustained.

Are you the next Art Fund Museum of the Year?

Art Fund is encouraging applications from any museum, gallery or historic house, whatever their scale, and from wherever they are located in the UK. Applicants will be asked to answer three questions:

• What did you do in the last year which showed imagination and creativity?
• How did this make a difference?
• How will you sustainably build on this in the future?

We are keen to hear from all kinds of organisations, no matter the shape, size or location, whether you have a collection or not, or whether or not you opened your doors to the public in the last year.

You can choose to focus on one thing in your application or give us an overview of several types of activity. We ask only that you can tell us, in your own words, what you did in the last year which showed imagination and creativity, how this made a difference, and how you will build on this in the future.

So, if you have a story to tell, we strongly encourage you to apply.

“Throughout the pandemic museums have been a source of great inspiration, joy, and support for many people. Organisations have shown incredible imagination and creativity in adapting in the face of constant change and challenge – finding new ways of working, new stories to tell and new audiences to engage. Art Fund Museum of the Year will celebrate the extraordinary achievements of museums, galleries and historic houses over the past year. I urge everyone to continue to visit, engage or support their local museums.”

Jenny Waldman,
Art Fund director and chair of the judges

Get in touch

The best way to begin the process is to read the application pack and look at our FAQ’s. These should answer all your initial queries. If you have any remaining questions we recommend you have a conversation with prize project manager Amy Dickson on 020 7225 4836 or 07734 229 959.