Orleans House Gallery and The Art Fund Prize

"I have for many years been a visitor to the excellent and wide-ranging exhibitions, often on surprising and imaginative themes, that have been presented in the Orleans House Gallery. I have seen the excellent new educational spaces made possible by the Heritage Lottery grant, and hear glowing reports of what is achieved there - though I can't claim to have been a pupil. Yet!"

- Bamber Gascoigne

"It has to be Orleans House – a fantastically restored gallery space set in glorious woodlands next to the Thames. It’s a perfect trip for the whole family, combining the historic Octagon room with new exhibition spaces and education workshops for children who work alongside actual artists. The staff are enthusiastic and dedicated and they even run a volunteering programme where young people get to help curate new exhibitions. It’s an exemplar of what a small gallery should be and it’s all in London! I urge you to vote for Orleans House so it can expand its work and continue to offer this brilliant service to London."

Munira Mirza - Director of Policy for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries

Message from the head of the Arts Service

As you may have already heard, Orleans House Gallery has been short listed for the prestigious Art Fund Prize. Ten museums and galleries nationally made up the original Art Fund Prize longlist, but after a first round of on site judging, this has now been reduced to four entries - with Orleans House being one of the final four!

The gallery has been nominated for its recent Heritage Lottery Funded development and its education provision, which has made the site a thriving community hub. The Art Fund Prize, the single largest of its kind, is £100,000.

Judges including Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry, mathematician Marcus de Sutoy, writer and broadcaster Mary Ann Sieghart, Sally Osman, Maggie Semple, film producer Lord Puttnam and Sir Robert Crawford will be visiting the nominated sites during March with the shortlist being announced in May and winner in June.

Your support is invaluable, so we would be very grateful if you could add your vote and your comments to the Guardian website.

Many thanks

Rachel Tranter, Head of Arts