Deadline for submissions - 31 October 2011

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE MARSH AWARDS. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE SPRING CONFERENCE.

The Heritage Crafts Association and the Marsh Christian Trust are delighted to offer two brand new awards for the heritage crafts sector. These awards will recognise and celebrate the exceptional individuals that contribute so much to our rich living heritage. The awards have been created to encourage the passing on of skills from one generation to another and to acknowledge the great work that volunteers do to raise the profile of heritage crafts across the UK. This year, there are two awards and the winner of each award will receive £500. The deadline for both is 31 October 2011. The award winners will be publically announced and presented with a cheque and certificate at the Heritage Crafts Association Spring Conference, March 2012.

The Awards

The Awards consists of £500 each and are presented in two categories:

I. Trainer - £500

One of the Heritage Crafts Association’s key aims is to ensure that heritage crafts skills of the highest standard are passed from one generation to the next. The enthusiasm, knowledge and experience of key individuals can really influence the number and quality of skilled craftsmen in the UK. Broadly classified as ‘trainer’, the award winner could be anything from a teacher, tutor, workshop leader, master or simply a craftsperson who offers one-to-one advice. The trainer might give anything from taster sessions for beginners to masterclasses for professionals. Trainers may nominate themselves, or be nominated by a trainee or a craft organisation.

II. Volunteer - £500

In heritage crafts, there are many people who do a tremendous amount on a voluntary basis. Whether independently, or as part of a craft organisation, these volunteers put in huge amounts of time and effort, sometimes over many years to make a real difference to their craft. Their role is often unsung. The award winner could have volunteered their time on anything from event organising to administration to running craft websites to initiating new projects in the heritage crafts sector. This award is a chance to recognise such unsung heroes. Nominations for the award can come from craft organisations, or individuals who have benefitted from the volunteer’s work.

Judging

Both Marsh Heritage Crafts Awards will be judged by a panel including a representative of the Marsh Christian Trust, Daniel Carpenter from Voluntary Arts, craftsman and archaeologist Alex Langlands (presenter of the BBC programmes ‘Victorian Farm’ and ‘Edwardian Farm’) and Robin Wood, Chair of the Heritage Crafts Association.