The Ashmolean reaches the Art Fund Prize shortlist

The Ashmolean Museum is one of four institutions shortlisted for the £100,000 Art Fund Prize, the UK's largest single arts prize. The museum was longlisted for the prize in February, and has made the final list of four institutions vying for the award. The shortlist of nominees is: The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry The Ulster Museum, Belfast - Christopher Brown, Director of the Ashmolean said of the shortlisting: 'We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for the Art Fund Prize - this is a very exciting stage of the competition and it is a great honour for the Ashmolean to be selected. We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters who have voted for the Museum so far. At the heart of the Ashmolean's redevelopment has been the ambition to transform the Museum to meet the needs of the 21st century public.' For the first time the Art Fund Prize website is hosting a public poll, with the option for voters to leave comments in support of their favourite museum or gallery. Voting for the shortlisted institutions opened on 14 May and will close on Friday 18 June at 5pm. The poll results and online comments will again be given to the Judges for their consideration when selecting this year's Winner.