V&A East Storehouse Leads Prestigious Museum of the Year Award Shortlist
The V&A East Storehouse in London has emerged as a strong contender for the highly coveted Art Fund museum of the year award, the most prestigious prize in the United Kingdom's museum sector. This annual competition recognizes outstanding innovation and achievement among cultural institutions, with a substantial £120,000 prize awaiting the winner.
Distinguished Finalists Announced
Joining the V&A East Storehouse on the distinguished shortlist are four other remarkable institutions: the National Gallery in London, the Box in Plymouth, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery. Each finalist will receive £20,000, with the overall champion being revealed at a ceremony aboard the historic Cutty Sark in London on June 25th.
Jenny Waldman, director of the Art Fund, praised all shortlisted museums for their unique and groundbreaking approaches. "These institutions have all innovated in different ways, pushing the boundaries of what museums can be and do," she stated, highlighting the diverse strengths of each contender.
The Frontrunner: V&A East Storehouse
Many observers consider the V&A East Storehouse the leading candidate for the award. This £65 million facility, which opened in the spring of 2025 within the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, represents a radical reimagining of traditional museum storage. By removing partitions, the space allows visitors unprecedented access, enabling them to "see and breathe the same air" as the artifacts. Waldman emphasized that this innovative design has fundamentally transformed the concept of a museum storehouse.
Other Notable Contenders
The Box in Plymouth, a £46 million cultural center described as the largest in southwest England, has demonstrated significant impact despite initial mixed architectural reviews. A recent economic report credited it with injecting £244 million into the local economy, and it houses an impressive collection of over two million items. Waldman commended its dual focus on engaging national conversations while serving the local community, particularly noting its current Beryl Cook exhibition.
The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge earned recognition for its introspective approach, inviting artists like Glenn Ligon to critically engage with its collections. Its "All Over the Place" exhibition, hailed as a model for artist-museum collaboration, involved inserting new works into existing displays to foster dialogue and reassessment.
The National Gallery was celebrated for its extensive efforts during its 2025 bicentenary year, which included a widely praised rehang of its collections, the reopening of the Sainsbury Wing, and a community-focused project led by artist Jeremy Deller that extended to Derry, Dundee, Llandudno, and Plymouth.
The Accessible Underdog: Norwich Castle
While perhaps viewed as an outside bet, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery has undergone a transformative refurbishment that its leadership claims makes it the most accessible castle in the country. "If you're a wheelchair user and you want to go up to the ramparts of Norwich Castle, you can," Waldman noted, underscoring how this project opens historical experiences to new generations.
The award follows last year's victory by Beamish, the Living Museum of the North in County Durham, which was praised for its joyous and immersive recreations of 1940s and 1950s life. This year's shortlist continues the tradition of honoring institutions that redefine public engagement with culture and history through bold innovation and community focus.
