Tower of London announced as finalist for Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015

The Art Fund announced the six shortlisted finalists for their prestigious Museum of the Year 2015 award.

The Tower of London, which is cared for by independent charity Historic Royal Palaces, has been shortlisted following an unparalleled year for the visitor attraction which saw over 5 million people visit the art installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ in the Tower’s moat.

The visually magnificent display of 888,246 ceramic poppies by the artist Paul Cummins and installation designer Tom Piper encircled the Tower, marking the centenary anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, each poppy planted by one of thousands of volunteers and each representing a British and Colonial life fatality.

Imperial War Museum

The installation served not only as a poignant visual reminder of lives lost during the war but also enabled the Tower to engage in a learning and engagement programme exploring the theme of remembrance which reached over 1 million people and raised as well as raising millions of pounds for six service charities.

The Mac Belfast

Michael Day, Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces, said:

“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. 2014 was an extraordinary year for us as we marked the anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

As well as opening a new display exploring the stories of the Tower of London during the war and hosting a successful learning initiative on the importance of remembrance, Historic Royal Palaces worked with the artist Paul Cummins and installation designer Tom Piper to create a stunning display of 888,246 ceramic poppies in the Tower’s moat that truly captured the imagination of people not only nationally but globally.

Over the last 1,000 years the Tower of London has been at the heart of our history and to be able to reach out to new audiences of all generations at such a significant time was remarkable.”

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

The Tower of London has dominated the City of London for the last millennium and is still one of the capital’s most prominent landmarks as well as a world-famous visitor attraction.

Throughout its long history, the Tower has served as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, an arsenal, royal mint, menagerie and jewel house. Today, London’s great royal fortress is home to some of the most potent symbols of British history: the Yeoman Warders, ravens and Crown Jewels.

The Whitworth, Manchester

Yet there is far more to discover within the historic walls and through an engaging learning and events programme reaching out to audiences of all ages and by opening new spaces and exhibits, the Tower strives to help everybody explore the stories of how monarchs and people have shaped society in one of the greatest palaces ever built.

The announcement of the 2015 winner will be made at an awards dinner at Tate Modern on Wednesday 1 July 2015.

Other finalists for the hotly contested award are:

Dunham Massey (National Trust) Altrincham, IWM London, The MAC Belfast, Oxford University Museum of Natural History and The Whitworth, Manchester.