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02/07/2010
Ulster Museum Scoops Top UK Award
The Ulster Museum has won one of the most prestigious museums prizes in the world.
At a recent awards ceremony in London, the museum was presented with the £100,000 UK Art Fund Prize.
The museum, which reopened in October 2009, following a £17.2m rejuvenation, faced competition from museums across England, Scotland and Wales and last month reached the final shortlist of four, along with the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford), Blists Hill Victorian Town (Shropshire) and The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (Coventry).
The competition involved an online public vote as well as a rigorous judging process led by broadcaster Kirsty Young.
Tim Cooke, Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, said: "Rejuvenating the Ulster Museum in Belfast has been a deeply rewarding and purposeful experience coinciding with a remarkable period of change in Northern Ireland's history. The public appetite for the new space and for engagement with our collections has been huge – as evidenced by the record visitor numbers and the massive level of support for the public vote element of the Art Fund Prize.
"I am grateful to all our visitors and supporters for their vital interest, to our funders, including the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Heritage Lottery Fund, to all National Museums Northern Ireland staff involved in the project and to the Art Fund Prize judges for all their time, care and enthusiasm. It is particularly humbling for us to be selected for this prize against such high calibre competition."
He continued: "We are delighted on Northern Ireland's behalf. This is the first time in Northern Ireland's history that a prestigious cultural prize of this nature has been awarded to an institution in the region. This prize will encourage us as we endeavour to play a meaningful role at the heart of our changing society."
Northern Ireland Culture Minister, Nelson McCausland commended museum staff for "their commitment and creativity, which has enabled the museum to win this superb award".
Since reopening, the Ulster Museum has become Northern Ireland’s busiest visitor attraction with visitor numbers to date of over 420,000.
(NS/GK)
At a recent awards ceremony in London, the museum was presented with the £100,000 UK Art Fund Prize.
The museum, which reopened in October 2009, following a £17.2m rejuvenation, faced competition from museums across England, Scotland and Wales and last month reached the final shortlist of four, along with the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford), Blists Hill Victorian Town (Shropshire) and The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (Coventry).
The competition involved an online public vote as well as a rigorous judging process led by broadcaster Kirsty Young.
Tim Cooke, Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, said: "Rejuvenating the Ulster Museum in Belfast has been a deeply rewarding and purposeful experience coinciding with a remarkable period of change in Northern Ireland's history. The public appetite for the new space and for engagement with our collections has been huge – as evidenced by the record visitor numbers and the massive level of support for the public vote element of the Art Fund Prize.
"I am grateful to all our visitors and supporters for their vital interest, to our funders, including the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Heritage Lottery Fund, to all National Museums Northern Ireland staff involved in the project and to the Art Fund Prize judges for all their time, care and enthusiasm. It is particularly humbling for us to be selected for this prize against such high calibre competition."
He continued: "We are delighted on Northern Ireland's behalf. This is the first time in Northern Ireland's history that a prestigious cultural prize of this nature has been awarded to an institution in the region. This prize will encourage us as we endeavour to play a meaningful role at the heart of our changing society."
Northern Ireland Culture Minister, Nelson McCausland commended museum staff for "their commitment and creativity, which has enabled the museum to win this superb award".
Since reopening, the Ulster Museum has become Northern Ireland’s busiest visitor attraction with visitor numbers to date of over 420,000.
(NS/GK)
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Timed to coincide with 80th anniversary of the original museum, the reopening of the Ulster Museum has marked this date as well as inaugurating a new era in Northern Ireland's culture, writes Carla Liébana. The new museum was officially reopened after a two-years, complete refurbishment of its interior. The project, costing £17.
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Hurricane play gets go-ahead despite arson attack
The staff at the Old Museum arts centre in Belfast are today in the middle of a clean up operation after a random arson attack on the building. Fortunately the fire was contained within a small office at the back of the building after petrol was poured through a window on Wednesday.
Hurricane play gets go-ahead despite arson attack
The staff at the Old Museum arts centre in Belfast are today in the middle of a clean up operation after a random arson attack on the building. Fortunately the fire was contained within a small office at the back of the building after petrol was poured through a window on Wednesday.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
