Ten museums and galleries have been short-listed for The Art Fund’s coveted £100,000 award for an original and imaginative arts project.

Contenders for the formerly known Gulbenkian Prize include The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol for its Breaking the Chains commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade and, on the same topic, Liverpool’s newly opened International Slavery Museum.

Institutions put forward in the capital are the recently transformed London Transport Museum; The National Army Museum for its Helmand: The Soldiers’ Story exhibit on a British army campaign in Afghanistan; the British Library for its Sacred – Discover What We Share – showcase of the world’s greatest collection of Jewish, Christian and Islamic holy texts; and the Wellcome Collection’s exhibits on medicine, life and art.

Regional venues comprise Woking’s Lightbox gallery and museum for its strong community involvement in presenting local history alongside modern art and Topsham Museum in Exeter for its River Gallery housing historic local boats.

In Scotland, the redesigned Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney, is being considered for its 20th century British art exhibition and outreach events, in addition to the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick for telling the story of Britain’s most northerly group of islands.

David Barrie, director of the independent art charity, said: “With the prize now in its sixth year, the long list once again presents us with an impressive range of projects that reflect the ambition, diversity and excellence of our museums and galleries.”

In early April the judges will announce the final four nominees, with the ultimate winner being announced on 22 May at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London during Museum and Galleries Month 2008.

Previous award winners were Pallant House Gallery in Chichester (2007), Brunel’s ss Great Britain in Bristol (2006); Big Pit: National Mining Museum of Wales in Blaenafon (2005); The Scottish Gallery of Modern Art for Landform (2004) and the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law at the Galleries of Justice in Nottingham (2003).

New sponsor The Art Fund succeeded the Gulbenkian Foundation’s five-year benefaction, which ended last year.