William Morris Gallery has been awarded the prestigious title of Museum of the Year for its major renovation and creative reinterpretation of the life and work of Morris - the revolutionary Victorian designer and social activist.
The gallery reopened in August 2012 following a major redevelopment with transformed gallery spaces - including new temporary exhibition space - updated education facilities and an orangery-inspired extension overlooking the grounds.
Since reopening, the Gallery has seen almost 100,000 visitors through the door, with record numbers participating in an ambitious programme of events and activities.
It is the second major award for the gallery this year - Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects and GUM Design won the 2013 Museums and Heritage Award for Permanent Exhibition for their work on the attraction.
In a statement, the panel of judges said: "This truly is Museum of the Year. Its extraordinary collections, beautifully presented, draw the visitor engagingly through Morris's life and work and through the building itself. Setting the highest standards of curatorship, and reaching out impressively to its local community."
The Hepworth gallery in Wakefield was given a second prize, of £10,000, for its education programme.
