A LEADING art gallery has been shortlisted for one of the most prestigious – and valuable – art prizes in the country.

York Art Gallery is one of five front-runners in the running for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2016.

The announcement comes just less than a year after the completion of an £8m transformation of the gallery, situated in the centre of York.

And the winner will be presented with a prize of £100,000 at an awards dinner, before an invited audience of the UK’s museum and cultural leaders, at the Natural History Museum in London on July 6.

The delighted chief executive of the York Museums Trust, Reyahn King, said: “To be one of only five finalists is in itself fantastic recognition of the transformation that has taken place at the gallery.

“We believe the new and improved spaces are a fitting home to our nationally important collections and enable us to give the public a fresh approach to the display and understanding of ceramics.

“We can achieve our ambitions to host internationally important exhibitions and extend the artistic offer to our gardens behind. With learning spaces, better facilities and a great welcome we think the gallery is a friendly, inspiring and fun place for our visitors.

“We are extremely proud to be shortlisted and we hope that it will help us build on our growing reputation as one of the best art galleries in the country.”

Also shortlisted for the award are the Arnolfini in Bristol, Bethlem Museum of the Mind in Beckenham, Jupiter Artland in West Lothian and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.