Ulster Museum awarded prize

The Ulster Museum in Belfast has been awarded the Art Fund Prize.

The judges, chaired by the broadcaster Kirsty Young, took account of public comments as well as 73,000 votes in an online poll. It beat three other shortlisted institutions – the Ashmolean in Oxford, Blists Hill Victorian Town in Ironbridge and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry.

The Ulster Museum has been Northern Ireland's busiest visitor attraction since 2009, following a £17.8m refurbishment project.