Yorkshire Sculpture Park wins museum of the year!

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park beats the likes of the Hayward Gallery and the Tate Britain to be named the museum of the year. The judges described it as "a truly outstanding museum with a bold artistic vision".The park, situated in the grounds of Bretton Hall in Wakefield, was first opened to the public in 1977. Picking up the £100,000 prize, founder Peter Murray said: "Weve tried so hard to develop something which is unique not just in this country but also in Europe and beyond.Founder and executive director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Peter Murray said: "This award makes us feel we are moving in the right direction."The park has held exhibitions for the likes of Eduardo Paolozzi, Lynne Chadwick and Ai Weiwei. Its collection of works by Henry Moore is one of the largest open-air displays of his bronzes in Europe. The museum of the year shortlist included the Hayward Gallery and the Tate Britain in London and the Ditchling Museum of Art in East Sussex.Yorkshire Sculpture ParkYorkshire Sculpture Park opened in the grounds of Bretton Hall College near Wakefield in 1977. The 500 acres of parkland and gardens are home to sculptures by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Anthony Caro, while the venue also has several indoor galleries. It has won praise in recent years for major exhibitions by artists includingJoan Miro, Jaume Plensa and Yinka Shonibare. Shonibare, who exhibited there last year, recently nominated it as his favourite exhibition space, saying it was "one of the only spaces in the country where you can properly show things both indoors and outdoors".Fans include Monty Pythons Michael Palin and rapper Dizzee Rascal, who visited the venue while on tour. In 2011, he named it as one of the places that inspired him the most, saying the sculptures were "like nothing Id ever seen before", adding: "The contrast between the natural surroundings and contemporary structures is stunning."