Every vote vital for museum's glory bid

Blists Hill Museum's bid for Art Fund Prize glory - worth £100,000 - comes to a climax today when first round voting for the prestigious honour closes.

The Victorian Town museum in Madeley stands in second place and people have just a few hours to register their votes for the accolade - the largest of its kind for museums and galleries in the country. Officials from Blists Hill have urged voters to make a last minute effort to help pip other contenders to the post.

Paul Gossage, head of marketing for the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, said: "Thank you to everyone that has helped Blists Hill Victorian Town do so well in the Art Fund Prize public vote.

"We are in second place, just two per cent behind the Ulster Museum, so we have a strong chance of winning. You can still make a real difference. If you have not already voted, please vote today."

Blists Hill Victorian Town in Madeley is one of 11 institutions long-listed for the Art Fund Prize by a panel of judges chaired this year by broadcaster Kirsty Young.

The museum has faced stiff competition throughout, being up against the likes of the Natural History Museum and Hampton Court. But throughout the campaign it has remained near the top of the tree.

The prize is awarded to the museum or gallery for a project completed in the last year that the judges deem demonstrates the most originality, imagination and excellence.

Voting for the long list closes today at 5pm. It will reopen for the short-list on May 17 at 9am and close on June 8. The winner will be announced on 30 June 2010.

Vote at www.artfundprize.org.uk