TWO North-East museum projects have made the shortlist for Britain's biggest arts prize.

The Museum of Antiquities for Reticulum and Tyne & Wear Museums for Pontis are both in the running for the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year.

Pontis, the Latin word for bridge, is a collaboration between Tyne & Wear Museums, North Tyneside Arts and public transport operator Nexus.

It has funded a permanent contemporary art project linking Wallsend Metro Station with nearby Segedunum - the Roman fort at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. The project included producing tongue-in-cheek Latin and English signs for everyday places - the local job centre was re-named Forum Venalicium, or slave market.

The Mayor of North Tyneside, Coun Linda Arkley, said: "I am delighted that Pontis is among the projects shortlisted for this prestigious award. "Tyne & Wear Museums play an important part in the cultural and educational life of North Tyneside and Segedunum is attracting much-needed investment to this part of the region."

It is up against Reticulum, a joint venture between the Museum of Antiquities and junior schools in Northumberland, which aims to boost pupils' understanding of life in the region during the Roman and Celtic periods.

The Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year, is the largest single arts prize in the UK, with £100,000 money on offer.

The 13 shortlisted projects range from Titian at the National Gallery in London, to a small local history exhibition in a deprived area of Merseyside.

The four finalists for the 2004 prize will be announced at the end of March. The winner will be announced May 11th at the Royal Academy, Burlington Gardens, during Museums and Galleries Month.