The centre is based at the Galleries of Justice

The National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (NCCL) in Nottingham has been named as the inaugural winner of the UK's richest arts prize, the Gulbenkian Prize for museums and galleries.

The centre is based in a Victorian courthouse and 18th century prison and works with schools, colleges and the public to promote active citizenship.

The Gulbenkian judges described the experience of visiting the museum as "both chilling and inspirational".

They applauded the centre for using an historic resource with such ingenuity and originality, setting a standard to which other museums should aspire.

A key part of its programme is the series of crime reduction programmes for young offenders and young people at risk of offending.

The centre receives a cheque for �100,000 and an enamelled silver bowl.

Lack of funds

The other museums on the Gulbenkian shortlist were the Natural History Museum's Darwin Centre Phase One, Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham's Collections, Communities and Memories and the RRS Discovery Renewal Programme in Dundee.

The centre intends to use the Gulbenkian prize money to re-design part of the museum buildings, using space in the 1833 prison.

This area is at present largely empty and closed to the public due to lack of funds.

We were unanimous in our decision, in spite of the exceptionally high standard of the short list Bamber Gascoigne

Bamber Gascoigne, chair of the 2003 judges, made the announcement at an awards ceremony at Zandra Rhodes' new Fashion and Textile Museum in London.

He said: "We were all immensely impressed by the dedication and inventiveness with which the whole staff of NCCL had tackled a very challenging problem - that of using their museum's rich resources to bring alive the potentially very dry subject of citizenship.

"Teachers will be grateful to them, and their experiment is one which others elsewhere will be able to follow and develop.

"We were unanimous in our decision, in spite of the exceptionally high standard of the short list - any one of which could have been a worthy winner."

The ceremony was recorded by the BBC for the second of two programmes about the prize, which will be broadcast by BBC Four on Friday at 1930 BST.

The Gulbenkian Prize is designed to reward each year's most innovative and inspiring idea in its sector - be it an exhibition, new gallery, public programme or important new initiative - developed in a UK museum or gallery.

SOME JUDGES' COMMENTS

Peter Jenkinson, National Director, Creative Partnerships: "I spent three hours at the NCCL and was overwhelmed by its energy and brilliance.

Joanna Lumley, actress and writer: "Our house was struck by lightning the other night and that's exactly how I felt about the NCCL experience. It's astonishing and thrilling and frighteningly good."

Dr Simon Thurley, Director of English Heritage: "Nottingham's use of its 18th and 19th century courthouse and prison heritage is simply brilliant and provides a solution to the ever-increasing number of redundant Victorian courthouses around the country."

Eleanor Updale, author and historian: "I was bowled over by the superb use of the gaol, the courthouse and the police station. NCCL makes real use of history and a difference to people's lives."