Perth Museum has been announced as one of five finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, the world’s largest museum prize.
Perth Museum, home of the Stone of Destiny, opened in March 2024 following a £27 million development at the former Perth City Hall, telling the story of over 10,000 years of Scottish and world history through a local lens. Alongside the stone, the museum displays Perth & Kinross’s Recognised Collections of National Significance as well as iconic loans and exhibitions. Perth Museum has welcomed over 250,000 visitors since opening, exceeding its annual visitor target of 167,000 by 50%.
Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries, annually shortlists five outstanding museums for Museum of the Year. The 2025 prize recognises inspiring projects and activity from autumn 2023 through to winter 2024. The judges are tasked with identifying impactful projects that spotlight the wide range of remarkable people, including museum staff and volunteers, who bring museums to life by engaging with communities, families and younger visitors, artists and creatives.
Helen Smout, Chief Executive Officer at Culture Perth and Kinross said, “We are thrilled to be in the running as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, and honoured to be the only Scottish museum on the shortlist. This nomination belongs to the people of Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and all our staff, volunteers, supporters, and contributors who have helped make Perth Museum a very special place since we opened just over a year ago. We are changing perspectives on what a small, regional museum can achieve. Regardless of who takes home the grand prize, we already feel like winners. Good luck to all of our fellow shortlistees!”
The winning museum will be announced on 26 June at a ceremony at the Museum of Liverpool, the first time the event will be held outside London. The winner will be awarded £120,000, and £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists, bringing the total prize money to £180,000. The prize is funded by Art Fund’s members who buy a National Art Pass. During the shortlist celebration period (29 April to 26 June), Art Pass holders can enjoy free entry to the new Macbeth exhibition at Perth Museum, and 50% off all paid exhibitions at Perth Museum and Perth Art Gallery year-round.
Perth Museum is open 10:00 – 17:00 every day, and until 19:00 on Thursdays. Entry to the museum is free, but the Stone of Destiny requires a timed ticket available in the museum. Exhibition tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions; children under 16 are free.
For more information visit perthmuseum.co.uk.
