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Harris Museum & Art Gallery shortlisted for prestigious Art Fund award

The Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston is one of only 10 shortlisted UK museums and galleries (1) now in the running to spend a share of a £50,000 fund on contemporary craft at Collect 2008 (2), in The Art Fund's new initiative Art Fund Collect. Launched in November 2007 by The Art Fund in partnership with the Crafts Council, the scheme invited museums to apply for the opportunity to gain privileged preview access to Collect 2008.

Amanda Draper, Keeper of Art for the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, said:
"The Museum is thrilled to be short-listed for the Arts Council Collect 2008 scheme. It will really help with our ambitions to collect contemporary art and craft".

Alex Walker, Head of Arts and Heritage, Preston City Council, said:
"This is great news and is particularly timely as we are shortly to open our re-modelled first floor Ceramics and Glass display this spring".

A total of 23 galleries and museums from across the country applied, and now 10 have the chance to select one significant contemporary craft object for their collection during a special pre-VIP preview. Each museum will submit its choice of object by 1pm on 24 January to the Committee (3), who will then choose the winners that will share the £50,000 fund.

David Barrie, Director of The Art Fund, said:
"Great works of contemporary craft are still available for affordable sums if you seize the opportunity offered by fairs like Collect. This strategic and active intervention by The Art Fund is designed to by-pass the often cumbersome decision-making processes and enable museum curators to be able to compete with private collectors to acquire the very best work now being made."

Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, the Crafts Council, said:
"The Crafts Council is committed to creating opportunities for public collections to acquire craft. We are delighted that the Art Fund is supporting craft collections through this initiative."

The Harris Museum & Art Gallery is an important regional museum, housed inside a stunning Grade I listed Neo-Classical building in the heart of Preston city centre. It has a regular programme of exhibitions and events, alongside permanent collections of fine art, decorative art and historic collections of national significance.