Heart of England News

Compton Verney wins Arts Fund prize

We are proud to share that Compton Verney has been named one of four finalists for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025.

As a finalist, they receive a £15,000 prize in recognition of their impactful and inclusive work during their 20th anniversary year.
The announcement was made at the Museum of Liverpool on Thursday 26 June, where representatives from all five shortlisted institutions came together to celebrate creativity and innovation across the UK museum sector. The evening culminated with the announcement of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, as the overall winner of the £120,000 prize.

“I am so proud and delighted that Compton Verney is a finalist for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025. Being a finalist is a wonderful recognition of our 20th anniversary year and celebrates all the incredible work that our staff, volunteers, trustees, artists and educators put into creating such an extraordinary, creative space — as well as, of course, our visitors and supporters, without whom none of this could have happened.

I want to pay tribute to Beamish for winning the prestigious award, and to all the brilliant museums on the shortlist. Many thanks to Art Fund and the Museum of the Year judges for including Compton Verney in this exceptional line-up of museums.” 
Geraldine Collinge, CEO, Compton Verney


Compton Verney’s 20th anniversary year in 2024 featured major exhibitions, outdoor installations, and groundbreaking community initiatives. Our Sculpture in the Park programme brought internationally recognised artists to their landscape, including Sarah Lucas, Permindar Kaur, Larry Achiampong and Louise Bourgeois, along with a new site-specific work by Erika Verzutti.
They continued their mission to be inclusive and accessible with student-led exhibitions, creative learning programmes, and initiatives like their monthly dementia café. Their work was also recognised with the Skills West Midlands Inclusion Award for helping young disabled people access cultural careers.

They were honoured to be shortlisted alongside:
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North (County Durham) WINNER
Chapter (Cardiff)
Golden Thread Gallery (Belfast)
Perth Museum (Perth & Kinross)

Each finalist receives £15,000, with a total of £180,000 awarded across the sector.

Thank you to Art Fund, the judges, and everyone who has supported Compton Verney.