2015 - Whitworth Art Gallery
Winner of Art Fund Museum of the Year 2015, read more about this stunning gallery in Manchester's Whitworth park.
Connecting art and learning
Founded in 1889 as the first English gallery in a park, the Whitworth art gallery is part of the University of Manchester.
Gallery doors in The Whitworth (2015) by Alan WilliamsArt Fund
Reopening
While gearing up for its grand reopening in early 2015, the gallery ran a lively pre-opening programme, ensuring its collections worked as hard for its audiences as ever.
The Whitworth (2015) by Art Fund and Northern Town ProductionArt Fund
Director of the Whitmorth, Maria Balshaw (2015) by Dafydd JonesArt Fund
Maria Balshaw, director of the Whitworth from 2006 to 2017
"We used the time to create more ambitious programmes. We considered what sorts of collaborations could work at the Whitworth, between young people and our collections, say, or between artists and the academics we share a campus with."
A Photograph at the award ceremony (2015) by Dafydd JonesArt Fund
Chris Smith, Lord Smith of Finsbury
Art Fund's chairman Chris Smith praised the Whitworth's transformation as one of the great museum achievements, changing Manchester's landscape and transforming what a museum can offer.
Manchester
The gallery is located in Whitworth park, south of Manchester's city centre. The park was donated to the city by engineer Joseph Whitworth.
Get visiting benefits with the National Art Pass
The Whitworth Art Gallery were the winner but there were four other amazing museums on this year's shortlist...
Museum of the Year finalists (2015) by Art FundArt Fund
Front of Imperial War Museum (2015) by IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMArt Fund
Imperial War Museum, London
The museum engages visitors with the history of war and was commended for its exhibitions on John Singer Sargent and the First World War centenary.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History (2015) by Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryArt Fund
Museum of Natural History, Oxford University
The judges were impressed by the museum's renovation and restoration, showcasing the historic architecture and collections, as well as interactive exhibits.
The MAC (2015) by Elaine HillArt Fund
The Mac (Metropolitan Arts Centre), Belfast
The judges recognised the MAC for its innovative contemporary arts programme, for supporting emerging artists and encouraging collaboration and creativity within Northern Ireland's art community.
Holding a poppy (2015) by Martin ParrArt Fund
Tower of London
The exhibition 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The judges recognised the Tower's success in engaging a broad public audience and making history accessible and relevant.
Photography by:
Alan Williams
Chris Lacey
Dafydd Jones
Elaine Hill
Martin Parr
Production: Northern Town
