The Ulster Museum in Belfast has been announced as the 2010 winner of the £100,000 Art Fund Prize for museums and galleries.

Praised by the judges for its "all-round excellence", the museum beat three other short-listed institutions, The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry.

The award is in recognition of the museum's redevelopment project, which took three years to complete at a cost of £17.8m.

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: "Ulster Museum is a brilliant example of a museum that is passionate about its public.

"The redevelopment is stunning, capturing its visitors' minds and hearts with exceptional creative flair."

The revamp included the reconfiguration of the museum's listed building and added series of new galleries - including interactive learning zones, a new Applied Art Gallery and a three storey-high Window on Our World display.

Kirsty Young, chair of the judges, added: "We were impressed by the interactive learning spaces on each level that are filled with objects which visitors are encouraged to touch and explore, and by how the museum's commitment to reaching all parts of its community is reflected in the number and diversity of its visitors.

"The transformed Ulster Museum is an emblem of the confidence and cultural rejuvenation of Northern Ireland."

For the first time, The Art Fund Prize website hosted a poll inviting the public to vote for their favourite nominated museum or gallery, and to post supporting comments telling the Judges why they should win.

The poll received 73,000 votes and more than 40,000 comments. The judges' visits to the short list, and consideration of the results of the online poll and public comments informed their decision.