Kelvingrove has doubled its visitors numbers since re-opening

The museum is one of two Scottish projects in the running for the �100,000 Gulbenkian prize.

Kelvingrove was closed for three years during the �35m refurbishment, and has attracted over two million visitors since it re-opened in July.

Scotland and Medicine, an umbrella organisation for medical exhibitions around the country, was also nominated.

Other nominations for the prize for museum innovation included Kew Palace in Surrey and the Victoria and Albert's Islamic art gallery in London.

'Variety and contrast'

Francine Stock, chair of the 2007 judges, comment said: "This year's long list shows great variety and contrast - from a textile study collection to a substantial metropolitan museum, from a dedicated library and a spectacular National museum exhibition to a stylish and enterprising arts centre - and we were hugely impressed by the way these entries seek to engage audiences.

"This is a truly inspiring long list and the next stage of our judging process will be a really tough challenge."

Last year's winner was Brunel's ss Great Britain in Bristol, whose visitor figures have since increased by 40%. In 2004, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art won for Landform - part sculpture, part garden, part land-art - by Charles Jencks.

The winner is due to be announced in May.