A ripple of excitement swept through the city when Nottingham Contemporary opened with an inaugural exhibition by world famous British artist David Hockney, ten years ago.
The gallery put the city on the map for contemporary art and, since then, has attracted more than two million visitors.
That the Contemporary has now been been shortlisted for the hugely prestigious Museum of the Year award, is in itself a tribute to the exhibitions and outreach work it undertakes.
To win the £100,000 prize would be truly exciting for both the museum and our city.
Today the five competition judges will visit Nottingham. We want them to know that the Contemporary is a much-loved institution that sits right at the heart of our community.
The fact the Contemporary is free to enter brings an opportunity for local people that is almost unrivalled.
The gallery’s connections with the Tate network of art museums and other national institutions open doors most local museums can only dream of.
In the last ten years, the Contemporary has helped Nottingham establish a fantastic reputation for the quality of its exhibitions and cultural events.
The Contemporary attracts 170,000 visitors every year. It also helps generate visitors for exhibitions at the excellent Nottingham Lakeside Arts, the New Art Exchange in Hyson Green and the Harley Gallery at Welbeck Abbey in the north of the county.
These attractions, the envy of many cities, will be strengthened in less than two years when Nottingham Castle reopens after its £30m refurbishment.
Nottingham Contemporary director Sam Thorne frequently points out how art plays a positive role in stimulating the local economy, as visitors spend money in hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes.
But the achievements of his gallery are much wider.
The outreach work that the Contemporary’s creative and enthusiastic team undertake with local schoolchildren, care home residents and many other people who are struggling to get by, is deeply impressive.
The Loudspeaker programme that has offered potentially life-changing opportunities for scores of women women facing challenges from homelessness to abuse is outstanding.
The fact that more than 25,000 children and young people, together with their families, have taken part in free workshops alongside artists, is equally impressive.
Such initiatives are now part of the ethos of The Contemporary.
But perhaps its greatest achievement has been to enhance Nottingham’s national reputation for culture.
“We aim to be a civic institution that serves to create a sense of place,” Mr Thorne tells The Post, in an interview today.
During the last ten years, The Contemporary has certainly achieved that aim.
Nottingham is very proud.
And we hope that the Museum of the Year judges agree.
