Call for nominations: Marsh Awards for Excellence in Gallery Education 2019

Do you know someone doing excellent and inspirational work in gallery or visual art education and learning?

Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education and the Marsh Christian Trust are delighted to announce that nominations are open for the Marsh Awards for Excellence in Gallery Education 2019. The Awards, which recognise and celebrate the achievements of those working in learning and education within gallery or visual arts contexts (freelance, salaried or as volunteers) in the UK and internationally, grant winners £500 to spend on their professional development.

This year Engage and the Marsh Christian Trust are launching a new annual Award to celebrate the lifetime achievement of a colleague who is working, or who has worked in learning or education in or for galleries or visual arts organisations in the UK. The winner will receive £500 to spend as they would like.

Nominations Deadline: Monday 9 September 2019, 10:00 am

About the Awards

Awards of £500 each will be offered to five individuals in the UK and one international individual, working in learning or education in or for galleries or visual arts organisations, who have shown dedication or innovation in their work.

The new annual lifetime achievement award will be offered to one individual in the UK who is working, or who has worked in learning or education in or for galleries or visual arts organisations. All the Awards will be announced at the Engage International Conference in Newcastle Gateshead, 5–6 November 2019.

With the exception of the lifetime achievement Award, winners should use the Award to support their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and each will be asked to complete a short feedback form by March 2020. The winner of the lifetime achievement Award may choose to use the Award for whatever they wish, which could include supporting their CPD if this is relevant.

Since 2011, the Awards have successfully enabled winners to develop their arts education practice through funding attendance of courses and conferences, the joining of professional associations, visiting of good practice in the UK and abroad, funding of research, and by inspiring personal and professional confidence through the recognition of their work.

Who can be nominated for the Awards?

Nominations are encouraged for colleagues at all stages of their careers, working freelance, in salaried positions or as volunteers. Engage welcomes nominations for those working with organisations of all sizes. Nominations for non-members of Engage are also invited. Nominators should be a colleague or a representative of an organisation who has worked with the nominee.

If you made a nomination in previous years, please feel free to do so again as we would be pleased to consider your nomination in 2019. Engage wishes to thank colleagues for the high standard of applications received in the past eight years.

Who can be nominated for the lifetime achievement Award?

Nominations are encouraged for colleagues who have worked for a considerable time in learning or education in or for galleries or visual arts organisations in the UK. Engage welcomes nominations for colleagues who are still working and those who have stopped working. Engage welcomes nominations for those who have worked or are working with organisations of all sizes. Nominees may be or have been working freelance, in salaried positions or as volunteers. Nominations for non-members of Engage are also encouraged. Nominators should be a current or ex-colleague or a representative of an organisation who has worked with the nominee.

Judging criteria and process

Nominations should demonstrate how nominees have exceeded the expectations of their role, or previous role, by showing dedication or innovation in their work.

Judging will take place and winners informed in September. A panel of experts in gallery education along with representatives from the Marsh Christian Trust and Engage will select the winners. The Awards will be presented during the Engage International Conference in Newcastle Gateshead, 5–6 November 2019. The Award ceremony will include a description of the winners’ education work and achievements, and winners will be invited to submit a short video about their work to screen. For the lifetime achievement Award, Engage can offer to help with the film or visual presentation. UK winners will be offered travel expenses (up to £165) to attend the Awards event, dinner and a complimentary day place to attend Conference on the day of the ceremony or the following day. The international winner will be offered travel expenses (up to £425) to attend the Awards event, dinner and a complimentary day place to attend Conference on the day of the ceremony or the following day.

If you have any queries please contact Louise Rutledge, Communications Officer, Engage: communications@engage.org / 020 7729 5858.

Engage is committed to equality of access. Should you need nomination details in another format please contact Engage on 020 7729 5858 / info@engage.org

About the Marsh Awards

The Marsh Christian Trust was founded in 1981 as a grant-making body. The trust runs an Awards scheme of some 80 Awards run in partnership with organisations across the fields of the Arts, Heritage, Social Welfare and Conservation. The trust works in partnership with organisations, such as Engage, to identify the best candidates and deliver these Awards. The Marsh Awards for Excellence in Gallery Education were launched in 2011 as an annual award to recognise those working in Gallery Education who have shown dedication or innovation in their work. 

About Engage

Engage is the lead advocacy and training network for gallery education. We support arts educators, organisations and artists to work together with communities in dynamic, open exchanges that give everyone the opportunity to learn and benefit from the arts.

Engage is an Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation, receives Open Project National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland and project funding from the Arts Council of Wales.

Membership starts at just £36 per annum or £3.25 per month. Find out more at https://engage.org/membership/