YOUR CHANCE TO DESIGN NATIONAL MUSIC AWARD
The winning design in 2021. Image by Clair Irwin.
Artists and designers in the Stirling area will have the opportunity to create bespoke trophies for Scotland’s coveted national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
Stirling will host the prestigious event for the first time on Thursday 20 October, when artists, industry professionals, press and music fans will descend on the city.
To highlight the enduring links between music, art and design in Scotland, each year, The SAY Design Commission chooses an artist/designer/maker to create bespoke prizes for the bands and artists recognised at ceremony.
As part of The SAY Award’s partnership with Stirling, the artist or designer selected for 2022’s commission will be based in the Stirling Council area.
The winner will be offered a fee of £2,500 for the design and manufacture (including materials) of the awards along with the use of studio space at the Cowane Centre, a creative hub in Stirling city centre.
A short video package on the commission will be screened to all attendees at the ceremony, which will take place at The Albert Halls Stirling, before the prizes are presented to some of Scotland’s most outstanding musical talent.
From today (19 August), expressions of interest are open for this exciting creative commission opportunity.
Convener of Stirling Council’s Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Gerry McGarvey said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Stirling’s local artists and designers to showcase their creativity and innovation on the national stage.
“The Stirling area is home to a thriving and dynamic creative scene, with an abundance of artistic talent, so I know there is going to be huge interest in securing this prestigious commission and some amazing entries.”
The SAY Design Commission’s theme is sustainability so they want to hear from artists/designers/makers developing innovative ideas and processes which focus on circular design, ethical considerations and a zero-waste approach.
Robert Kilpatrick, Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: “From flip books and ceramic bells to Jesmonite discs and handmade quilts, across the past 10 years, The SAY Design Commission has offered a creative and exciting complement to the award’s musical counterpart.
“We want to hear from artists, designers and makers based in the Stirling Council area, particularly from those who already embed sustainability into their creative practice.
“The SAY Design Commission offers a unique opportunity for a cross-artform collaboration which builds connections, showcases work and further highlights the strength and diversity of creative talent in Scotland. We look forward to reviewing expressions of interest and selecting the perfect fit for 2022’s commission.”
Glasgow-based studio Still Life won last year’s commission, creating bespoke vases and engraved trays made from salvaged recycled materials.
If you'd like to be considered, please read the brief below and register your interest before midnight on 31 August.
The 2021 winners of the SAY Award Design Commission, Still Life, who used 21kg of waste plastic to create their prizes. Image by Clair Irwin.
DESIGN BRIEF FROM SAY:
We are looking for a designer/artist/maker based in the Stirling area to create bespoke prizes for the bands and artists recognised as part of this year’s Scottish Album of the Year Award campaign. At this stage, we are not asking for ideas/sketches or concepts.
The person or studio we commission will be tasked with thinking about the concept of a prize/award with sustainability at the forefront of the design process.
Still Life (who won last year’s commission) used 21kg of waste plastic to create 2021’s prizes, challenging and changing perceptions around what we consider as waste altogether. You can learn more by watching this short video: https://youtu.be/8lSCbUP3QQ8
For The SAY Design Commission 2022, we require the production of 14 awards in total:
The winner of The SAY Award 2022 will receive a bespoke prize/trophy
The 9 other SAY Award Shortlisted finalists will each receive runner-up awards.
The winners of two new prizes introduced last year – the Modern Scottish Classic Award and The Sound of Young Scotland Award – will each receive a bespoke award/trophy
We also require two replicas of The SAY Award winner trophy for the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA)
Following receiving all expressions of interest, a panel made up of The SAY Award’s Hilary Goodfellow, Stacey Hunter (Local Heroes) and Caroline Mathers (The Stirling Smith Gallery and Museum) will select the artist/maker/designer we’d like to undertake the commission. We will work with you to discuss and confirm your ideas before you bring them to life.
Please see the project timeline below and ensure you would have the capacity to deliver what is required before submitting your expression of interest.
Project Timeline
Friday 19 August 2022
The SAY Design Commission opens expressions of interest
Wednesday 31 August 2022
Deadline for expressions of interest for The SAY Design Commission 2022 (midnight)
Monday 5 September 2022
The SAY Design Commission judging panel will meet to review expressions of interest and select the artist/maker/designer who will be chosen for 2022’s commission
Tuesday 6 September 2022
The successful artist/maker/designer will be notified
Thursday 6 October 2022
All 14 prizes/trophies created as part of the commission delivered in advance of The SAY Award Ceremony
Check out examples of other trophies/prizes created as part of The SAY Design Commission over the years: https://www.localheroes.design/project/say-award-design-commission