Museum Up For Award

Hertford Museum is in the running for the Art Fund Prize 2011, the UK's largest arts prize. It is among ten museums to be long listed for the prestigious £100,000 award.

The Art Fund Prize 2011 rewards excellence and innovation in museums and galleries across the UK for a project completed or undertaken in 2010. Following a short list of four museums to be announced on 19 May, the £100,000 cash prize will be awarded to the 'Museum of the Year' at a ceremony on 15th June.

Hertford Museum has been selected this year for the Hertford Museum Development Project.

Helen Giles, Curator of Hertford Museum, said: "What wonderful news for everyone at Hertford Museum! Being long listed for the Art Fund Prize is such an honour. To be recognised in such a way is really special to all the staff, volunteers and supporters of the museum who all had a unique contribution to make to our development project. This is a great success story that we can now add to the museum's long history."

The other long listed institutions are include The British Museum, V&A, The Roman Baths Museum in Bath and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Michael Portillo, Chair of the Judges, said: "Making the selection was far from easy, out of an extensive list of strong entries. The result shows a wide geographical spread with museums from Scotland, Wales and a strong representation in the North of England. Equally remarkable is the variety of institutions included from the tiny Hertford Museum to the V&A and British Museum. Subject matter is equally diverse, ranging from contemporary art spaces to the history of polar exploration. We now look forward to visiting these outstanding examples of excellence and innovation in the museum world with a view to announcing the short list on 19 May. We also look forward to taking account of the public vote which people can participate in online."

Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, said: "The Art Fund Prize annually champions the most fascinating, challenging and engaging new museum projects in the UK. As ever, our panel of judges had a tough job selecting a long list from a strong set of applications, but they finally came to the unanimous decision in favour of these ten museums and galleries, each encapsulating excellence and innovation."

The judges will visit the ten long listed museums before meeting to decide on the short list.

Members of the public can vote for Hertford Museum by visiting the ArtFund website at www.artfundprize.org.uk/2011/vote.

The River Hertford lies at the head of the River Lee navigation

Cycling National Cycle Route 61 runs along the towpath to Ware