The Shetland Museum and Archives has made the long list for the Art Fund Prize for museums and galleries 2008, it was announced this month. The Musem, alongside the Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, will battle it out against major London and South East museums and galleries for the prestigious title and £10,000 Art Fund Prize.

Welcoming the news, Area Director for VisitShetland, Andy Steven, said: “With its wealth of over 3,000 artefacts, archival material, and regularly changing temporary exhibitions, the Shetland Museum is a first class visitor attraction which has enjoyed very high visitor numbers since its re-opening in June last year. Both the quality of the artefacts and the museum’s uniquely historic setting in Lerwick’s old harbour have been key to attracting visitors to both Lerwick and Shetland as whole, and I’m very pleased that this has been recognised by the judges of the Art Fund Prize.”