The 10 UK museums and galleries selected for the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year 2007 long list have been announced.

The top-10 include Braintree District Museum for the Warner Textile Archive in Essex for its 200-year-old record of textiles; the relaunched De La Warr Pavilion of contemporary art in East Sussex; Kew Palace in Surrey for restoring and displaying rooms for the first time in 200 years; Pallant House Gallery in Chichester for its 20th century British art exhibits; and Weston Park Museum in Sheffield for its archaeology, natural and social history collection.

The London-based nominees comprise the Horniman Museum for its new aquarium; the V&A for its Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art; and The Women’s Library for its exhibition – Prostitution: What’s Going On? – at London Metropolitan University.

Scotland has two contenders for the prize – Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow for its New Century Project as well as the Scotland & Medicine: Collections & Connections initiative for promoting Scottish medical collections.

Six of the 10 projects have received Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grants.

Chair of the judges, Francine Stock, said: “This year’s long list shows great variety and contrast – from a textile study collection to a substantial metropolitan museum, from a dedicated library and a spectacular National museum exhibition to a stylish and enterprising arts centre – and we were hugely impressed by the way these entries seek to engage audiences.”

The four finalists and the winner will be announced in April and on 24 May respectively at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

Last year’s prize was won by Brunel’s ss Great Britain in Bristol, whose visitor figures have since increased by 40 per cent. In addition, the attraction has been short-listed for the European Museum of the Year award. Details: www.thegulbenkianprize.org.uk

Photograph: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow