Bristol’s Arnos Vale Cemetery was announced today as the winner of the Museums at Night competition to win an event curated by internationally acclaimed artist Marcus Coates, along with a £3,000 bursary to put it together through funding from Arts Council England.

The popular Bristol Victorian heritage site saw off stiff competition from the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle and Sunderland museum, securing the most public votes in their category on the Museums at Night competition page.

Arnos Vale Cemetery will work with performance artist Marcus Coates in October on an audience led piece which investigates what might happen to us after we slip this mortal coil. Marcus wants to produce an exciting ‘night of ritual’ with performances, images and objects made, not as artworks but as answers in themselves.

Chief Executive, Mike Coe said “We are overwhelmed to have won the chance to work with an artist of Marcus Coates calibre, we really didn’t think we stood much of a chance against such prominent competition so it is testimony to both our supporters and the Bristol community that we have secured the public vote”

Now in its eighth year, Museums at Night will see hundreds of museums, galleries and historic spaces all over the UK opening their doors after hours to put on an array of special events.

Rosie Clarke, Museums at Night Campaigns Officer says, “The Connect! programme is a fantastic and challenging aspect of the Museums at Night festival: everyone taking part learns a lot about how to foster positive working relationships, realise an artistic vision and inspire new audiences through the power of participatory art.”

It was hoped that three other Bristol sites, Arnolfini, Bristol Museum and Clifton suspension Bridge would all win their categories to bring a host of Artists to Bristol for the event but unfortunately they were pipped at the post in their respective categories.