The Pier Arts Centre won a major architecture prize last year

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney, and the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick are among 10 museums shortlisted.

Formerly known as the Gulbenkian Prize, the winner of the �100,000 award is due to be announced in May.

Both of the Scottish museums were commended for housing collections in interesting locations.

Shetland's museum and archives are a brand new facility in a restored 19th Century dock, which opened to the public last summer to tell the story of Scotland's most northerly islands.

We feel that the Pier plays an important role in the islands' cultural well being Neil Firth Pier Arts Centre director

It has already surpassed its predicted visitor numbers.

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness - which also reopened last summer after a �4.5m upgrade - houses the important British art collection of author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner.

The harbour-side building won the UK's largest architecture prize last November - the �25,000 Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Andrew Doolan Award.

Neil Firth, Pier Arts Centre director, said: "We feel that the Pier plays an important role in the islands' cultural well-being.

"Making the long-list is itself a confirmation of the extraordinary effort that has been put into the project by our architects, builders, our board and our many other supporters."

Other museums and galleries on the list include the National Army Museum and the British Library in London, and the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.

Judges will visit all nominees in March, before drawing up a final shortlist of four in early April.

The winner will be announced on 22 May at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London during Museum and Galleries Month 2008.

Broadcaster Sue MacGregor, who chairs the judging panel, said: "We're going to have an exciting and absorbing time visiting all 10 museums and galleries."