The Leach Pottery in St Ives is one of eleven institutions long-listed for the £100,000 Art Fund Prize, the UK’s largest single arts prize.

If you haven’t cast your vote already please go to the following link and vote for the Leach Pottery to win the Art Fund Prize for Museums and Galleries. We are the smallest contender by a long way and the only Cornish candidate – indeed the only South West candidate – the deadline for voting is 7th May so once you have voted please get all your friends, colleagues and family to do it too. Just one vote per email address – and you can leave a comment to let the judges know why you think Leach should win. The first prize is £100k which would go a very long way to paying for a new education centre for the pottery. Here’s the link www.artfundprize.org.uk/2010/vote – and thank you in advance

The long list has been selected by a panel of Judges chaired this year by broadcaster Kirsty Young. The £100,000 prize is awarded to the museum or gallery for a project completed in the last year, that the Judges deem demonstrates the most originality, imagination and excellence. The Prize, which has been sponsored by the UK’s leading independent art charity, The Art Fund, for three years, aims to increase public appreciation and enjoyment of the UK’s museums and galleries.

The public can vote for their favourite long-listed institution and leave comments for the Judges on the Art Fund Prize website telling the Judges why they should win. The poll results and online comments will be given to the Judges for their consideration when selecting the Short List and Winner. Visitors to the website can enter an exclusive competition to win a limited edition Jonathan Yeo print.

To vote, comment or for more information about the Art Fund Prize go to: www.artfundprize.org.uk/2010/vote