2022 APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
The New Medallist Scheme
Information below for reference only
APPLICATIONS for 2022 NOW CLOSED
Applications for 2023 to be posted nearer the time
Please read through the whole document carefully to help with your application
Applications are invited for the British Art Medal Society ‘New Medallist’ scheme, an initiative about to enter its sixteenth year (the scheme was paused in 2021 due to the pandemic). This scheme is intended to provide a framework by which artists based in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and who are relatively new to medal-making, can develop their interest in the medal as a vehicle of artistic expression. Its aim is to deepen and broaden the selected artist’s knowledge of the medal and to expand their awareness of the medium’s possibilities.
The scheme is administered by the British Art Medal Society (BAMS). It is funded by the Belvedere
Trust and supported by the British Museum. For more about BAMS, see our About Us page here at
www.bams.org.uk
Previous ‘New Medallists’ have gone on to receive medal commissions, win awards for their medals,
and participate in art medal events in the UK and abroad. Their medals have been acquired by public
collections and private collectors.
Each year one artist is selected for the scheme. Artists eligible for the scheme:
• will have left art college (at whatever level, i.e. BA, MA, PhD or equivalents) within 4½ years of the commencement of their participation in the scheme (that is, since February 2018)
or be about to leave college before September 2022. (This is usually 3½ years but has been extended this year due to the pandemic.)
• will generally have shown an interest in medal-making and had some experience of it while at college. (This may have been through the BAMS Student Medal Project or in some other college. (This may have been through the BAMS Student Medal Project or in some other way.)
The selected artist will receive:
a grant of £3,500 (see below for conditions)
• a place in a medal-making course at a college abroad or an international medal workshop (to be selected by BAMS), allowing the artist to participate for two to three weeks in a contemporary medal-making environment and thereby gain a greater understanding of contemporary thinking on medals
• mentoring sessions with an experienced UK-based medal-maker appointed by BAMS (a minimum of three sessions and, if more are needed, the number to be agreed between the mentor and the artist)
• approximately one week’s work experience with a working mint (this may be with the Royal Mint or with a private mint), where the artist will work with experienced medal-makers and be encouraged to experiment with various techniques
• access to a foundry for a session to learn about casting and patination
• access for one week to the medal collections of the British Museum and/or Victoria and Albert Museum under the supervision of a curator, enabling the artist to gain a greater understanding of the medallic tradition by studying historical medals from the Italian Renaissance to the twenty-first century
• free membership of BAMS for one year
• free attendance at a BAMS weekend conference
Within twelve months (starting 1 September 2022) the artist will be expected to devote not less than nine weeks to medal-related activities. (These nine weeks are not necessarily to be taken in one block but may be split over the twelve-month period, as agreed between the artist and BAMS.) Within these nine weeks the artist is expected:
- to attend a medal-making course at a college abroad or an international medal workshop (for two to three weeks), to gain work experience with a mint (approximately one week), and to study the British Museum and/or Victoria and Albert Museum medal collections (one week), all as mentioned above.
- to devote a further four weeks to building up a portfolio of medallic ideas.
- to attend mentoring sessions (for which the artist will be expected to prepare effectively).
- to attend a BAMS conference.
- to attend BAMS lectures whenever possible.
- to produce a visual record of research and finished work resulting from participation in the scheme.
- to produce at least one medal, for which all costs will be met by the artist. (One of these works may go on to become a medal issued by BAMS and at least one will be featured in The Medal, the society’s journal.)
- to produce a report of about 500 words on the artist’s experience of the scheme, for retention by BAMS.
The principal expenses of the artist, which are to be met from the £3,500 grant, are:
- travel to and accommodation in another country for two to three weeks while attending a course or workshop. (The course is arranged and paid for by the scheme, but the responsibility for making the practical arrangements regarding travel and accommodation rests with the artist.)
- expenses in London for one week while visiting the British Museum and/or Victoria and Albert Museum.
- living expenses for a further four weeks, including travel to a BAMS conference.
- travel to mentoring sessions with a UK-based medal-maker.
- travel to a session at a foundry for casting and patination experience; this will be combined with other visits where possible.
- production of at least one medal.
Also, the artist will be expected to retain membership of BAMS (currently £40 per annum) for a further three years after the conclusion of the twelve-month period, thereby maintaining close involvement with the medal world.
The artist must have British nationality or a valid UK visa for the year covered by the scheme.
Applications from artists wishing to be considered for the scheme should include:
- a letter explaining the artist’s interest in the scheme and expectations around it.
- an idea for a medal that the artist would like to make. (This should indicate an ability to think in terms of medallic art and may include sketches and text concerning the ideas behind the medal.)
- curriculum vitae.
- the name, position and contact details of a referee who may be contacted by BAMS.
- small images of a maximum of six works by the artist (see below for maximum email size).
- a completed consent form allowing BAMS to be in touch with the applicant and to retain the applicant’s details in accordance with data protection legislation (see form below)
Applications must be sent via email and must be received by 30 April 2022. Please note that emails must be less than 2MB in total size, as larger messages may be blocked.
Applications and consent forms should be sent to: [email protected]
A decision will be made before the end of June. All applicants will be informed of the outcome.
New Medallist Scheme privacy policy and consent form
The Scheme is administered by the British Art Medal Society. It is supported by the British Museum.
The successful applicant can expect BAMS to hold the following personal data for the purpose of facilitating their participation in the scheme, arranging placements, and arranging payments.
- Full name, address, telephone number and email.
- Information to enable bursary payments to be made. (We can do this by cheque or by bank transfer depending on your preference.)
All data shared with us will be treated in strict confidence.
We will not share your information with any third parties. Your final report on your participation in the scheme will be retained in perpetuity for the BAMS archive.
We will never collect sensitive information about you without your explicit consent. The information we hold will be accurate and up to date. You can check the information that we hold about you by contacting us. If you find any inaccuracies, we will delete or correct it promptly. The personal information which we hold will be held securely in accordance with our internal security procedure and the law.
To be completed and signed by the applicant and returned to BAMS with their application.
Please tick
| I consent to BAMS use of my personal data for the above purposes |
| Please contact me by the methods I have ticked: | |
| By post | |
| By email | |
| By telephone |
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