Robert Winston, Chairman of the Gulbenkian judges, who made the winning announcement at a ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects, said,

“Each of our four short-listed museums and galleries could have been a deserving winner but ss Great Britain got our unanimous vote for being outstanding at every level. It combines a truly groundbreaking piece of conservation, remarkable engineering and fascinating social history plus a visually stunning ship above and below the water line. Most importantly, the ss Great Britain is accessible and highly engaging for people of all ages.”

Reporting on reactions to their win, Matthew Tanner, Director of ss Great Britain, said,

“Winning the Gulbenkian prize has been the most enormous boost for the trust. Not only have staff and volunteers been highly motivated and rewarded by the accolade, but they are excited by the strong public response too. It seems to have engendered a really positive mind-set among staff and visitors alike, and this can only help sustain the ship and museum in the long term.”