This year’s Marsh Awards for Excellence in Gallery Education were presented on Tuesday 6 November by David Anderson OBE, Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and Brian Marsh OBE, Chairman of the Marsh Christian Trust, at a special evening event in Cardiff as part of the engage Internationall Conference 2012
This four winners, who each receive £500 to spend on professional development, are:
Freelance Arts Tutor Rebecca Graham, who was nominated for her work at The King’s Lynn Arts Centre where she has worked for three years as a volunteer, an apprentice and in a freelance capacity: “Rebecca’s encouraging delivery style has been an asset when working with young people with unstable backgrounds”.
Angela Blackwell, Gallery Curator at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton where she has delivered most aspects of the gallery’s work for the last seven years, including education: “Angela’s job title does not fully convey the richness of her involvement and commitment to Thelma Hulbert Gallery. She is director; curator; art educator; technician – frequently hanging shows on her own or with the assistance of one of an excellent team of volunteers she has inspired to support the gallery”.
Artist educator Tim Johnson, who was nominated for his work at Quay Arts on the Isle of Wight, where he has helped develop education work at the centre, making it central to the organisation’s ethos: “Tim uses his workshops to continually explore new themes and techniques – sometimes risky, always exciting”.
Amanda Phillips, Learning and Access Officer at Leeds Art Gallery, who has worked at the gallery for over twenty years and was nominated for her “absolute dedication” to placing education and learning at the centre of the organisation: “[Amanda’s approach is] good humoured and emotionally intelligent, viewing her work as ‘the long game’ of relationship building.”
Jane Sillis, Director of engage, said: “Gallery educators are essential to making sure the widest possible audience can get involved with art and artists. The high standard of nominations for these awards shows just how dedicated people working with audiences in galleries across the UK are.”
The Marsh Awards for Excellence in Gallery Education – full profiles of the four winners.
Tom Goddard and Laura Wilson discuss receiving The Marsh Awards for Excellence in Gallery Education in 2011.
