Stirling’s Albert Halls was last week announced as the venue of The SAY Award for the second year in a row for the most exciting night in Scotland’s musical calendar on Thursday 26 October.
The SAY Award Design Commission chooses an artist/designer/crafter to create unique prizes for the acts awarded at the ceremony to highlight the enduring links between music, art and design in Scotland. As part of The SAY Award’s host city partnership with Stirling, the artist or designer selected for 2023’s commission will once again be based in the Stirling Council area.
'Opportunity to showcase skills on a national stage'
The commissioned artist will be tasked with designing an award with sustainability at the forefront. Stirling based studio Art Futuro created last year’s award – a natural slate veneer trophy, which also functions as a high-end Bluetooth speaker. 2022’s award winners included Fergus McCreadie (winner of the Scottish Album of the Year Award), Berta Kennedy (winner of The Sound of Young Scotland Award) and Cocteau Twins (winner of the Modern Scottish Classic).
Expressions of interest for this unique creative design commission are open until midnight on Friday 4 August with Stirling’s artists given the chance to create awards for some of Scotland’s most outstanding musical talent.
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Chris Kane said: “This is an amazing opportunity for Stirling’s artists and makers to showcase their skills on the national stage, with the great and the good of Scotland’s music industry descending on the city.
“Stirling is home to a vibrant and diverse creative scene so I know there will be significant interest in securing this prestigious commission, and I look forward to seeing the high-quality and innovative entries over the coming weeks.”
The SAY Design Commission offers a fee of £2,500 for the design and manufacture of the awards, plus the artist/designer who secures the commission will also receive a month-long exhibition of the winning artist/maker’s work at The Tolbooth Gallery.
'Art rewarded with art.'
Robert Kilpatrick, Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association said, "The SAY Award has always taken a bold and innovative approach to how we celebrate the value of art and culture in Scotland, and this is so evidently reflected in the SAY Design Commission.
"Each year we select an artist/maker to design and produce bespoke prizes for our nominees and winners; providing a unique creative opportunity that sees art rewarded with art. It truly encapsulates what SAY is all about; valuing creative endeavour in Scotland, encouraging collaboration and celebrating it in all its idiosyncratic glory. It’s an incredible opportunity to have your design become part of Scottish music history, and the awards find a home with some of the country’s most outstanding and diverse musical talent.
"We’re delighted to offer the opportunity to a Stirling-based practitioner for a second year, with expressions of interest to undertake the commission open until midnight on Friday 4 August. Sustainability underpins the commission brief, so we’re excited to see how the concept of an award can be imagined and brought to life with ethical practices at the forefront and through a minimal waste approach.”
Artists, labels and music fans can now submit eligible albums, for free, at www.sayaward.com or purchase tickets to this year’s SAY Award ceremony at Stirling’s Albert Halls.
Background information
SCOTTISH MUSIC INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SMIA)
The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is a not-for-profit trade body and membership organisation which exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry.
As a Creative Scotland Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO), we work to create and nurture an inclusive membership community which reflects the full spectrum of Scotland’s music industry. We give voice to our membership when speaking to Government, Parliament and development organisations, and we both produce and support projects and programmes that stimulate sustainability, domestic and international growth, development and innovation in Scotland’s music sector. Our services, projects and events are designed to strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry on the world stage: economically, socially and culturally.
For further information on the SMIA and its services, projects and events please visit www.smia.org.uk.