Art Commission Brief - RWM Awards

Best of the West Awards 2010
Celebrating innovation and excellence in regional museums
Introduction
Renaissance is the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council’s groundbreaking
programme to transform England's regional museums. For the first time ever,
investment from central government is helping regional museums across the country to
raise their standards and deliver real results in support of education, learning,
community development and economic regeneration. A network of 'Hubs' has been set
up in each English region to act as flagship museums and help promote good practice.
Alongside the Hubs, MLA Regional Agencies and Museum Development Officers are
providing advice and support, Subject Specialist Networks have been set up, and
national museums are sharing their skills and collections to ensure Renaissance
benefits the entire museums sector. Renaissance is helping museums to meet people's
changing needs - and to change people's lives.
The West Midlands Hub is a partnership between Birmingham Museums and Art
Gallery, The Herbert, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Stoke-on-Trent Museums and
Wolverhampton Arts and Museums.
For more information, visit www.renaissancewestmidlands.org.uk (site currently

undergoing a re-vamp!)
The Awards
A new awards programme for all museums, galleries and heritage groups in the West
Midlands, including independent, local authority and volunteer-run organisations, was
launched in 2008. 2010 will see the third annual ‘Best of the West’ awards. The
Awards celebrate achievements and reward best practice in the region’s museums and
galleries.
The Best of the West Awards will be judged by an independent panel and presented at
a regional awards ceremony. Category winners will receive a cash prize and the
overall winner will receive an award specially commissioned for the occasion from a
designer-maker. Winners and shortlisted entries will receive a certificate recognising
their achievement and be promoted regionally and nationally through Renaissance.
The entry categories are: Best Permanent Exhibition, Best Temporary Exhibition, Best
Exhibition on a Very Small Budget, Inspiration, Inspiration on a Small Budget,
Outstanding Individual, Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Volunteer-Run Museum,
Outstanding Team, Investment in the Workforce, Friends/Supporters’ Group, Best of
the West.
Artists’ Brief: Art Commission 1

The commission
We are offering a commission for a “trophy” that will be awarded in the Best of the
West category. The overall winner in this category will be selected by the judges from
all of the entrants. The commission should generate excitement and provide suitable
recognition of innovation and excellence in our regional museums and galleries.
This year the awards ceremony will be held at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, a
beautiful and recently restored Art-deco space. In keeping with this, we are looking to
incorporate an Art Deco ‘flavour’ to the ceremony. This is not prescriptive but we
would be interested to see designs influenced by the Art Deco style.
The trophy will need to be:

• no more than 30cm wide x 30cm deep x 40cm high
• easily, securely and safely displayed in a public space – either on a shelf or
mounted on a wall
• Include the words “Best of the West”, “Renaissance” and “2010”
• aesthetically interesting, striking and appealing
Commissioning schedule
23 December 2009 Closing date for proposals
2nd January 2010 Designer-maker confirmed
January-February 2010 2 meetings to discuss progress
22 February 2010 Commission delivered
26 February 2010 Awards ceremony
The fee
£500 (to include all materials, expenses, and delivery)
How to apply
If you are interested in this commission, please send:
• A covering letter setting out your suitability for the commission and detailed
proposal, including a sketch (or sketches) for consideration. A paragraph
detailing your rationale for the chosen design is also required.
• CD/slides/photographs of recent work or other commissions
Send to:
Paulette Francis-Green, Project Manager, Best of the West 2010
West Midlands Hub Office, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH
Deadline: 23rd December 2010
For informal enquiries please contact Paulette Francis-Green on paulette.francis-

green@birmingham.gov.uk or ring on 0121 464 3886

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Best of the West Awards 2010

Celebrating innovation and excellence in regional museums

For more information, visit www.renaissancewestmidlands.org.uk (site currently

Artists’ Brief: Art Commission 1

The trophy will need to be:

• CD/slides/photographs of recent work or other commissions

Deadline: 23rd December 2010

For informal enquiries please contact Paulette Francis-Green on paulette.francis-

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