Public urged to back Ulster Museum for major UK award
Published: 31 March 2010
The Northern Ireland public has been urged to get behind the Ulster Museum for its chance to win £100,000 in the prestigious Art Fund award.
The Ulster Museum is the only museum in Northern Ireland to reach this stage in the competition and is up against 10 other museums across the UK which is in the running to scoop the prize.
Pictured left is Ulster Museum visitor guide Jenna Collier in front of the Ulster Museum’s much loved Edmontosaurus, click image to enlarge.
Staff at the Ulster Museum are encouraging the Northern Ireland public to vote online for the museum. Dr Jim McGreevy, Director of Collections & Interpretation for National Museums Northern Ireland, said, “We hope that the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have enjoyed their experience of the museum will get involved and help us in our pursuit for this award. It is a most prestigious accolade and to win it would be a huge accomplishment for the Ulster Museum and indeed, for Northern Ireland.”
Chairman of the Art Fund in Northern Ireland, Mark Donnelly, said, “The Art Fund is in place to recognise and reward excellence in museums and galleries across the UK and the Ulster Museum thoroughly deserves to be long-listed in this award. It is a hugely important part of Northern Ireland’s cultural landscape and the redevelopment has entirely revitalised the Ulster Museum, drawing new and returning visitors to the museum. The Ulster Museum should be congratulated for offering its visitors such a diverse and extensive range of events and exhibitions and I would strongly encourage the Northern Ireland public to vote online for this very special museum.”
The Ulster Museum is up against some of the UK’s best known institutions including the Natural History Museum’s Darwin Centre and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
Pictured above right are Ulster Museum visitors Sharon Simpson (centre) and Stephen Cole with visitor guide Jenna Collier, click image to enlarge.
The public can vote for the Ulster Museum by visiting www.artfundprize.org.uk and following the simple instructions. As part of the Art Fund initiative, a ‘Love Your Museum’ weekend will take place on the 10th and 11th April with special events taking place at the Ulster Museum during that weekend. Visit our what's on pages for more information.
Media contact: Kathryn Kirk, JPR, kathryn.kirk@jprni.com or 028 9076 0066
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