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The Art Fund launches competition to find the best photograph of Museum of the Year finalists

As part of the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2014, the Art Fund is calling on photography professionals and amateurs alike to send in their best shots of any of the six shortlisted museums: Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, East Sussex; Hayward Gallery, London; Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth; Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich; Tate Britain, London; Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield.  There are two categories – over 18s (#motyphoto) and under 17-years-old (#motyyoungphoto).

Whether a study of the museum’s architecture, a snapshot of friends in situ or a photo of a favourite object in the collection – the Art Fund is looking for the images which best represent the six finalist museums.

The public has until 9 June to enter.  The overall winner in the adult category will be chosen by a public online vote, with the winner announced on 4 July.   The top prize is a photography holiday in Italy courtesy of Frui Creative Holidays and Courses, and the winning image will be published in Art Quarterly’s Autumn 2014 issue.

The Art Fund has appointed photographer, writer and Frui Creative Holidays and Courses co-founder Henry Caroll to help judge the competition entries, and whittle them down to a shortlist of six photographs – one for each museum.  The shortlisted photographers will win prizes including a National Art Pass, a copy of Henry Caroll’s book Read This If You Want to Take Great Photography, and Blurb vouchers.

The Art Fund is delighted to announce that in partnership with Frui Creative Holidays and Courses, there will be free drop-in photography workshops at the six finalist museums in May and June, providing expert tips on how to take the best photographs. 

Photography Workshop dates (all from 10a.m. – 2p.m.)

Tate Britain, London– 18 May
 Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth– 1 June
 Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, East Sussex– 7 June
 Hayward Gallery, London –7 June
 Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich– 7 June
 Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield – 7 June

Full information on how to enter can be found at artfund.org/museumsinfocus

Follow the submissions and conversations using #motyphoto (over 18s) and #motyyoungphoto (17 and under)

The Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year, awarded annually with a value of £100,000, was established in 2003 (formally the Gulbenkian Prize for museums and galleries 2003–2007) to recognize the very best of the UK’s internationally acclaimed museums.  It has been supported by the Art Fund since 2008.  Previous winners include the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, London (2013); the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter (2012), and the British Museum, London (2011). The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the National Gallery in London on Wednesday 9 July 2014.