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"The Art Fund Prize for Museums and Galleries has been rebranded as the Museum of the Year award. Unlike previous years, when candidates had to present a major project or redevelopment from the past 12 months, any accredited museum or gallery can now apply to the \u00A3100,000 cash prize. According to the Museums Journal, the Art Fund has changed the award in order to streamline the process and encourage more applications.\u201CUK museums play a vital part in the cultural lives of some 40 million visitors per year,\u201D said Art Fund director Stephen Deuchar. \u201CThey are amongst the most creative and much-loved institutions in countless towns and cities across the country. The \u00A3100,000 prize for Museum of the Year is an important way of drawing attention to, and encouraging, the exceptional achievements of this leading branch of the UK's creative industries.\u201DApplications will open on January 2nd, 2013 and the shortlist of 10 finalists will be announced early April. The judging panel, which includes the Daily Telegraph\u2019s arts editor Sarah Crompton, writer and broadcaster Bettany Hughes, historian Tristram Hunt MP and the artist Bob and Roberta Smith, will then travel to each of the 10 shortlisted institutions. The winner will be announced in June 2013, together with the \u00A310,000 Clore Award for Learning.&amp;nbsp;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://uk.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/849906/art-fund-prize-becomes-museum-of-the-year>