LONDON.- This week, the search for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018 was launched with prize money of £140,000 at stake.

The biggest museum prize in the world, Art Fund Museum of the Year seeks out and celebrates innovation and exceptional achievement in museums and galleries across the UK. £100,000 is awarded to one outstanding winner and £10,000 to each other finalist.

The 2018 judges are also announced today: Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum Group; Rebecca Jones, BBC arts correspondent; Melanie Manchot, artist; and Monisha Shah, independent media consultant and Art Fund trustee. The judging panel will be chaired by Stephen Deuchar, director, Art Fund.

The winning museum will be announced before an invited audience of leading figures from the fields of culture and museums on Thursday 5 July 2018 at the V&A Museum in London, itself a winner of the prize in 2016, at a ceremony in the spectacular setting of the Raphael Cartoons Gallery.

Stephen Deuchar, director, Art Fund, said: “The announcement today to launch Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018 is a reflection of our commitment to the UK’s museums. We believe that our museums and galleries are engines of cultural development in this country: centres of innovation, pioneering new ways of engaging with the public, and encouraging more people to understand and enjoy the diverse cultures of the UK. The search is now on for our next Art Fund Museum of the Year, and we encourage organisations nationwide to apply.”

Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield, winner of the top award in 2017 receiving £100,000, commented today on the impact of their win: “We were absolutely delighted and honoured to have won Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017. We will always be proud of this achievement, as are the residents of Wakefield and Yorkshire. Winning this prestigious accolade was a fitting acknowledgement of the ambitious and passionate team at The Hepworth Wakefield, but also of our loyal and engaged members, patrons, supporters and local residents. The impact of winning has delivered even greater audience growth this year as the broad media exposure introduced the gallery to new people and convinced those who have long been meaning to visit to finally make the trip”.

Art Fund Museum of the Year will continue its partnership with the BBC in 2018, who will present a series of specially commissioned programmes across television, radio and online platforms.