www.24hourmuseum.org.uk is using Museum and Galleries Month as the launchpad for a contest where writers can win a £500 prize.

Based in Brighton, the aim of the Government-funded site is to cover museum and gallery stories in all regions of the UK.

It is updated daily by four full-time and two part-time staff, as well as around fifteen volunteer writers all over the UK.

In May, museums, galleries and heritage sites are hosting special events and exhibitions for Museum and Gallery Month.

The 24 Hour Museum team hope to use the opportunity to attract new volunteer arts writers and give them a chance to get published on a national cultural website.

Editor Jon Pratty said: “We’ll be awarding a prize of £500 to the writer of the best MGM 2003 review, news or exhibition story submitted to our site. Entries will be judged by a panel led by Loyd Grossman, chair of the Trustees of the 24 Hour Museum.”

Away from the contest, the site has been keen to attract volunteer writers on NCTJ or other journalism courses nationwide.

In the past 12 months it has worked with trainee journalists, many on NCTJ or other higher education media courses.

Jon said: “Many of our writers go on to get jobs in journalism, some remain with us as volunteer writers, and some now freelance for us on a regular basis.

“It is our policy to offer regular feedback to our writers, references to prospective employers and help with contacts.

“We pay travel expenses if our volunteers are asked to make a journey to review or cover a story. Our volunteers always get a byline.”

Anyone interested should contact Jon at [email protected] or call him on 01273 820044.

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