# The Hepworth crowned Art Fund Museum of the Year - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/07/10/hepworth-crowned-art-fund-museum-year/ - Published: 2017-07-10T10:28:00+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **The Hepworth Wakefield has been chosen as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017, winning £100,000.** The [Art Fund Museum of the Year](https://www.artfund.org/supporting-museums/museum-of-the-year) rewards the museum that has shown exceptional imagination, innovation and creativity in all areas of the business. [The Hepworth Wakefield](http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/) saw a 21% increase in visits on the previous year in 2016, and exhibitions including The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture, retrospectives of Martin Parr and Stanley Spencer, and a newly commissioned installation by Anthea Hamilton. Plans to build on the success of 2016 include transforming the wider site, by creating a landscaped garden by designer Tom Stuart-Smith. According to The Hepworth, it will be one of the largest free public gardens in the UK. An future collaboration with partners in the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle – Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Art Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park is also expected to be announced soon, along with a new initiative to continue to grow its collection. ## Advertisement > Super excited and proud to announce we are [@ArtFund](https://twitter.com/artfund?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#MuseumOfTheYear](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MuseumOfTheYear?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > 2017! [pic.twitter.com/shrXp2A19o](https://t.co/shrXp2A19o) > — The Hepworth Wakefield (@HepworthGallery) [July 5, 2017](https://twitter.com/HepworthGallery/status/882704693662818304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: > “The Hepworth Wakefield has been a powerful force of energy from the moment it > opened. The building has proved a perfect stage – both for its collections and > a breathtaking sequence of special exhibitions. The Hepworth serves its local > community and contributes to regional tourism too… It’s the museum everyone would > dream of having on their doorstep.” Simon Wallis, director of The Hepworth Wakefield, added: > “We are absolutely delighted to have won this wonderful accolade. It’s a great > honour that our work throughout our fifth anniversary year has been rewarded by > becoming Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017. Thank you to all the judges and the > Art Fund, which has long supported our ambitious collecting policy in Wakefield. * **[McDonald’s Canada removes radio ad after offending museums](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/01/16/mcdonalds-canada-removes-radio-ad-offending-museums/)**( 16 January 2018) * **[St Fagans National Museum of History crowned Art Fund Museum of the Year](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/08/st-fagans-national-museum-of-history-crowned-art-fund-museum-of-the-year/)**( 8 July 2019) * **[Museums funding advice](https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/12/10/museums-funding-advice/)**( 10 December 1999) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)