Put your skills on display for museum photography competition
29 April 2016
The Whitworth, in Manchester, wasn't the only winner in the Art Fund search for Museum of the Year in 2015. Amateur photographer Belinda Hastie also claimed a prize in the Museum of the Year Photography Competition.
Her thought-provoking picture of the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red poppies installation at the Tower of London, one of last year's shortlisted museums, caught the eye of judges. As this year's shortlist is unveiled, it could be your turn to put your photography skills on show.
The five museums that have been shortlisted this year are Arnolfini, in Bristol, Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Beckenham, Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh, V&A, in London and York Art Gallery.
The image of the sea of poppies spilling over the Tower of London is one I shall treasureBelinda Hastie, 2015 winner
Once again organisers Art Fund are asking amateur photographers and smartphone snappers to send in their best shots of any of the five shortlisted museums, details of how can be found on their website.
They would like images that most creatively represent the five finalists, whether that's the architecture, a favourite object in the collection or could be a photo of visitors enjoying the space.
Some 6,000 public votes were cast to select the winner from a shortlist of the six images representing the Art Fund Museum of the Year finalists.
Belinda, who's from Manchester, says she was very keen to see the poppies at the Tower so when a friend invited her up to London she suggested that they visit.
"It was a very busy Saturday, there were hundreds of people there...young and old...we joined the crowds and managed to get a front row view. It was breathtaking and like many others it stirred up emotions, it is amazing how such a simple flower can be so powerful. The image of the sea of poppies spilling over the Tower of London is one I shall treasure."
“I am absolutely delighted to win the Museum of the Year Photo Competition. All the finalists were so different yet everyone managed to capture the magic and emotion that the six museums evoke."
There was tough competition in 2015. Renowned documentary photographer Martin Parr helped whittle down the 1,800 entries to six – one for each museum.
Of the winner he said: 'The poppies in the Tower was the great cultural event from last year that captured the public imagination, so what a pleasure to see this image win. Also like all these great events, I am sure much of it was down to the energy and dedication of the volunteers, so having one such person feature was the icing on the cake.'
Participants must be over 18 years old and the deadline for submissions is 3 June 2016 and then it's down to Rankin to choose the final five. Those five will then face a public online vote from 13 June before the winner is announced on 28 June.
The winner of this year's Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year will be announced on 6 July 2016.
Below and to the right are last year's shortlisted photos to inspire you.
Museum of the Year 2016
