Two London museums feature in this year's shortlist for the museum of the year award, announced next week.
The revamped Imperial War Museum and the Tower Of London both feature in a six-strong shortlist that includes Manchester's Whitworth gallery and Belfast's The MAC, Oxford University's Museum of Natural History and the Stamford Military Hospital at Dunham Massey.
The IWM is nominated for its impressive £40m revamp in 2014, both to the building and the First World War galleries. In addition, its work reaching millions of people with broadcast and media partnerships, events run by the First World War Centenary Partnership and the launch of a new permanent digital memorial, Lives of the First World War, were praised by judges.
The Tower of London's poppy display (Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red by Paul Cummins and Tom Piper) are the reason for the landmark's nomination. The innovative artwork featured 888,246 ceramic poppies filling the Tower's 16-acre moat, and was seen by more than 5m visitors.
The Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year is the UK's largest arts prize, with a prize pot of £100,000. It celebrates the best museums and galleries, highlighting and rewarding the innovative and creative ways they bring objects and collections to life for the public.
At present, London institutions seem to be on a winning streak, taking the prize every other year since 2011. That year, the British Museum's memorable A History Of The World series scooped the prize. Then, back in 2013, the newly refurbished William Morris Gallery received the award. Perhaps 2015 will be London's year again, after the judges preferred Yorkshire last year.
The winner will be announced at Tate Modern on 1 July.
