'Dream' by Jaume Plensa. St. Helens
Winner of The Marsh Award for Public Sculpture 2009
'The Lion' by Hsiao-Chi Tsai and Kimiya Yoshikawa
Soho, London
'Perceval' by Sarah Lucas
Waddesdon Manor
The restoration of the Memorial to George III
Chris Daniels and Osirion Building Conservation
Weymouth
The Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture
This annual award is sponsored by the Marsh Christian Trust and administered by the PMSA. The award is presented for excellence in contemporary work, and also for distinction in restoration of historical works. This encapsulates the PMSA’s inclusive approach to public sculpture: as features in the urban and rural landscape, the association considers historical and contemporary sculptures to be equal in value.
How to nominate
You need to be a PMSA member, or a member of an affiliated society, or to be seconded by a member of any of these groups.
To download a nomination form for The Marsh award for Excellence in Public Sculpture 2011 click here.
To download an accompanying information sheet giving details of eligibility click here
Works can be nominated in one of two categories:
- a piece that has been made and unveiled within eighteen months of the cut-off point, 30 April 2011
- a restoration of any eligible work that has been carried out and completed within the above time period
Full information on the eligibility requirements of a work to be nominated is included on the nomination form and on the sheet of affiliated societies (‘Eligibility details’).
The Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture 2009
To download a press release about the Marsh Award for Public Sculpture 2009, click here
The Award Panel members for 2009 were: David Charlesworth (Marsh Christian Trust), Ian Leith (Deputy Chairman, PMSA; Chairman, Marsh Awards), Zuleika Dobson (Administrator, Marsh Awards), Michael Paraskos (Administrator, Marsh Awards), Jo Darke (NRP, PMSA) and a co-opted member for 2009, the artist Sue Ridge.
Award winners for 2009 were Jaume Plensa for Dream, in St. Helens, a 20m high sculpture depicting the head of a young girl with eyes closed in meditation. The piece is constructed on the site of the disused Sutton Manor Colliery at St Helens. The material used is a concrete aggregate mixed with sparkling white Spanish dolomite. Commissioned by former miners and St Helens Council as part of Channel 4's Big Art Project, this 400 tonne sculpture, which is highly light reflective even on a dull day, is the artist's response to the miners' desire for a work that expressed the future of their community and landscape. Jaume Plensa says that his sculpture is about celebrating life and the human experience; of standing between past and present, present and future, knowledge and ignorance. Dream was inspired by the spectacular setting, the local heritage, a vision for the future and the warmth, humour and passion of the former miners.
Three other certicates were awarded to Perceval by Sarah Lucas; The Lion by Hsiao-Chi Tsai and Kimiya Yoshikawa; and the restoration of the Memorial to George III in Weymouth by Chris Daniels and Osirion Building Conservation.
You can find out more about Dream by visiting the official website: http://www.dreamsthelens.com/home.html
To download a pdf about The Lion, click here
To download an article by Chris Daniels about the restoration of the George III statue, click here
To listen to Ian Leith's speech from the 2009 Award Ceremony, click here
To listen to Boris Johnson's speech from the 2009 Award Ceremony, click here
Affiliated Societies
Ancient Monuments Society
Art & Architecture
British Sundial Society
Fountain Society
Historic Gardens Foundation
Landscape and Arts Network
Royal British Society of Sculptors
Society of Portrait Sculptors
Twentieth Century Society
UK National Inventory of War Memorials
War Memorials Trust
The Harlow Arts Trust