The Box in Plymouth wins UK Art Fund Museum of the Year prize

The UK Art Fund Museum of the Year award has been awarded to The Box in Plymouth, surpassing competitors such as the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Chief executive Victoria Pomery received the £120,000 prize from broadcaster and judge June Sarpong aboard the Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Greenwich. Since its opening, The Box has welcomed over one million visitors and celebrated its fifth anniversary in September 2024. A report from 2025 indicated it contributed £244 million to Plymouth's economy and engages 10,000 children annually through its schools program, reaching 89% of local schools. Judges highlighted artist-led initiatives by Osman Yousefzada, Jeremy Deller, and Jyll Bradley for enhancing community involvement. The critically acclaimed Beryl Cook exhibition, Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy, was also noted. Art Fund director Jenny Waldman commended The Box for its transformative approach to sharing Plymouth's collections and its significant social and economic influence. The Box is managed by the not-for-profit Arca (Plymouth) Limited, with its main site and the nearby St. Luke's church buildings owned by Plymouth City Council. Other museums that received £20,000 each as finalists include The Fitzwilliam Museum, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, and V&A East Storehouse. The judging panel also featured Tony Butler, Yinka Ilori MBE, and Alice Loxton. Last year, the award went to Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.