More than 150 British soldiers contributed to the exhibition

The National Army Museum in London - home to Helmand: The Soldiers' Story - has been long-listed along with nine other UK museums and galleries.

A shortlist will be announced in April and a winner chosen in May.

The prize, funded by charity Art Fund, aims to "stimulate originality and excellence" in museums and galleries.

More than 150 soldiers of 16 Air Assault Brigade - the first Nato troops to enter Helmand - contributed to the exhibition, thought to be the first display of its kind during an ongoing conflict.

THE LONG-LIST British Empire and Commonwealth Museum(for Breaking the Chains) - Bristol British Library(for Sacred - Discover What We Share) - London International Slavery Museum - Liverpool The Lightbox - Woking London Transport Museum - London National Army Museum(for Helmand: The Soldiers' Story) - London Pier Arts Centre - Stromness, Orkney Shetland Museum and Archives - Lerwick Topsham Museum (for River Gallery Project) - Exeter Wellcome Collection - London

Their contributions include film footage, photographs, letters, personal diaries and e-mails.

Other museums and galleries on the long-list include London Transport Museum, following its �22 million transformation.

The British Library is also on the list for an exhibition bringing together the world's Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts.

Two further exhibitions on the list - at Liverpool's International Slavery Museum and at Bristol's British Empire and Commonwealth Museum - explore the issues of racism, human rights, freedom and identity.

Sue MacGregor, chair of the judges, praised the "imagination and inspiration" of all the 10 venues on the long-list.

"We're going to have an exciting and absorbing time visiting all 10 museums and galleries," she added.