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This morning, despite a colossal downpour in central London, I whistled my way into work following the announcement last night that the British Museum had won the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2011.

The reason was this project - A History of the World.听A two-million-year history of humanity on air, online and on display in partnership with听the 大象传媒听and over 500 museums, galleries and heritage sites across the UK.

The Art Fund judges made听their choice (from hundreds of entries, a long-list of 10, and then a shortlist of four) 鈥� according to broadcaster and former MP, Michael Portillo 鈥� because of:

The truly global scope of the British Museum鈥檚 project, which combined intellectual rigour and open heartedness, and went far beyond the boundaries of the museum鈥檚 walls.

Above all, we felt that this project, which showed a truly pioneering use of digital media, has led the way for museums to interact with their audiences in new and different ways. Without changing the core of the British Museum鈥檚 purpose, people have and are continuing to engage with objects in an innovative way as a consequence of this project.

His words are certainly very flattering and describe the broadness of this project: a 100-part radio series; physical displays, and of course this website where listeners could explore the British Museum objects, download podcasts of the series and discover the thousands of objects uploaded by museums, galleries, and individuals.

Speaking today, Neil MacGregor, the Museum Director,听explained that the prize rewards the hard work听of the entire Museum, but also the work of all those other museums who made the project what it is:

It is the first time a national museum has won the prize, and it is truly a prize for the whole Museum, as everybody contributed to making the project such a success.

The prize is 拢100,000. We shall use it for a series of Spotlight Tours, lending star British Museum objects around England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This seems appropriate as A History of the World involved 550 heritage partners, from Shetland to the Scilly Isles, who worked hand in hand with the 大象传媒 to explore global stories through museum collections of every complexion.

So, in truth, it鈥檚 not just the British Museum that can now proudly call itself Museum of the Year, it鈥檚 550 museums, galleries and heritage sites 鈥� not to mention the many thousands of individuals who shared their objects and stories with us on this website.

We鈥檙e very excited to discover that the British Museum has made it onto the long list for this year鈥檚 for A History of the World.

The prize is awarded each year and aims to 鈥渞ecognise and stimulate originality and excellence in museums and galleries in the UK, and increase public appreciation and enjoyment of all they have to offer.鈥�

It鈥檚 great to be in the running and now it鈥檚 a nervous wait to see if we make it onto the shortlist in May.

You can see all ten of the on the Art Fund鈥檚 website 鈥� and you can also join in their to let the judges know who you think should win.

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What comes to mind when you think of Cornwall? Sandy beaches? Fishing? Rick Stein? That鈥檚 the popular image: sleepy fishing villages and crowded beaches. But how about soap? Did you know that Mr Pears of Pears soap came from Mevagissey in Cornwall?听 Or astronomy? John Couch Adams, jointly credited with the discovery of the planet Neptune, came from around Launceston, near Dartmoor.听 Or peace? I bet you didn鈥檛 know that Alfred Nobel, he of the Peace Prize fame, once owned an explosives factory at Perranporth.

Me neither. But now we do thanks to a fantastic project underway in Cornwall that is bringing these stories together from museums across the county. Mary Godwin from Cornwall Museums explains what they鈥檙e doing:

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Throughout 2011, Museums right across Cornwall, from the Atlantic coast to the Tamar, are telling 鈥�A History of Cornwall in 100 Objects鈥� - a project inspired by HOTW - and these objects are now being posted onto the History of the World website.

The project is being run by the Museum Development Officer team who are based at the Royal Cornwall Museum, in Truro.听 The selection process has involved museums of all sizes 鈥� of which there are over 60 in the county - from tiny volunteer-run museums to major high-profile organisations.听 The aim is to get local people and visitors alike to see these unique objects and learn more about Cornwall鈥檚 history.听

There has been some heated debate along the way and the final choice has not been without controversy, but it has certainly generated a lot of interest and brought to light some wonderful, unexpected and quintessentially Cornish objects.

One of those 100 objects is a surfboard from Perranzabuloe Museum at Perranporth.听 Bellyboard surfing became popular at Perranporth soon after the end of World War I when George Tamlyn and William Saunders returned from the western front. There they had met South African surfers and decided to bring the sport to Cornwall.听

The local coffin maker and builder, Tom Tremewan knocked up surf boards at 2 shillings a time. The first boards were flat and made from two pieces of tongue-and-groove deal screwed to three wooden cross pieces.

Old floorboards and nails were used, to keep costs down and additional supplies were sometimes brought to Perranporth on the top of the local bus.听 Hundreds of surf boards were made each year at Tremewans in Perranporth.听听 Better types of boards, with curved ends, evolved over time, at a higher price of course.听

Another very Cornish and very strange object is the Padstow Obby Oss which can be seen in the town鈥檚 volunteer-run museum.听 Padstow is not only famous for Rick Stein鈥檚 cooking but also for one of Cornwall's most famous and enduring May Day folk customs. The Obby Oss looks very much like an African mask 鈥� it鈥檚 very similar to that of the Duck Dancers of New Guinea.

Over the coming year the 100 objects project will be used to generate media and community interest in museums and Cornwall鈥檚 unique heritage.听

It鈥檚 great to see the museums in Cornwall joining together to do this. Perhaps, I鈥檒l make it down there next year to hunt down some of the objects 鈥� I particularly like the look of Elliot's shop. In the meantime, you can look through all 100 Cornwall objects here, including Trengrouse's Rocket, Gorsedd robes and听 Alfred Nobel鈥檚 stool.

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