Art Fund reveals shortlist for Museum of the Year 2025

 Art Fund has today announced the five museums selected as finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025. One of the museums will be announced as the winner in June, and will be awarded £120,000. 

The shortlisted museums are Open-air museum Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in County Durham; art centre Chapter in Cardiff; art gallery Compton Verney in Warwickshire; contemporary art gallery Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast, and the newly opened Perth Museum in Perth & Kinross.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the Museum of Liverpool, the first time the event will be held outside London. £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists – bringing the total prize money to £180,000.

Art Fund said the 2025 awards ceremony will recognise projects and activity from autumn 2023 through to winter 2024.  

The 2025 judging panel, chaired by Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, includes: Rana Begum (Artist), Dr David Dibosa (Director of Research and Interpretation, Tate), Jane Richardson (Chief Executive, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales) and Phil Wang (Comedian, Writer, Actor). The judges will visit each of the finalists to inform their decision-making, while each museum will make the most of being shortlisted over the summer through events and activities for new and current visitors.

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Art Fund director Jenny Waldman said of the shortlisted organisations: “Each one offers a distinctive experience, showing the endless creativity and care that goes into making museums inspiring and exciting spaces for everyone.

“We hope people across the UK will be inspired to visit these remarkable places and museums in their local area to discover the powerful role they can play in our lives.”