Two weeks left for Commemorative Plaques competition submissions

From Historic Scotland (www.historic-scotland.gov.uk)

Two weeks until close of Commemorative Plaques Design Competition

There are just two weeks left for art students across Scotland to submit their designs for the new Commemorative Plaque scheme.

Invitations were issued to all art and design schools in Scotland, to give one of their students the opportunity to create the winning design for the new scheme, recently launched by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs.

The chosen design will be used as the official plaque that will be fixed to homes linked with the historical figures chosen to be honoured by the scheme.

Designs have to be submitted to hs.grants@scotland.gsi.gov.uk by 31 October 2012. The six best designs will then be judged by Historic Scotland, with the final decision being made by Ms Hyslop. The winner will receive £500.00.

Fiona Hyslop said: “The Commemorative Plaque Scheme will honour the historic figures in Scotland who have inspired our country’s history and heritage.

“Scotland is brimming with creative and artistic talent and I am really looking forward to selecting the winning design.”

There is no strict criteria for the design, however students should consider the following when creating their designs:

• The plaque needs to be easily fixed to buildings with screws etc.
• It is expected that the plaque will manufactured in traditional materials.
• The words on the plaque would need to contain the name of the person and the reason for being commemorated.

Entrants should include details of the materials they are proposing, the colour of the plaque and what form of wording they feel is appropriate for the scheme.

People were invited to submit their nominations for the historic figures they would like to put forward for a Commemorative Plaque. The closing date for this year’s nominations closed on 12 October. As the scheme has been launched in the Year of Creative Scotland 2012, nominations for historic figures in Scotland’s arts and creative fields were sought for this year’s scheme, with annual themes being announced each year.

There will be a maximum of 12 plaques awarded each year. These will be decided by an independent academic panel which is still to be announced.

(With thanks to Francis Caine at Historic Scotland)

Chris

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