Y Lle Celf at the 2010 Eisteddfod in the basement of a steelworks in Blaenau Gwent The Gold Medal (Welsh : Medal Aur ) of the National Eisteddfod of Wales is awarded annually in three categories for excellence in Fine Art , Architecture , or Craft and Design.[1]
Background
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is Wales ' most important national cultural event, taking place annually. Its open exhibition of art and craft, Y Lle Celf (Welsh : 'The Art Space') is one of the highlights of the Welsh arts calendar.[2] Gold medals are awarded in the Visual Arts section for outstanding contributions in different media: a gold medal for fine art has been awarded since 1951;[3] a medal for Architecture has been offered since 1954 (though withheld and not awarded between 1954 and 1959);[4] and a gold medal for craft and design has been awarded since 1985.[5]
Other awards are the Tony Goble Award, given to a first time exhibitor, and the Josef Herman Award, chosen by the public[6] (Josef Herman , a Polish emigree, won the Fine Art medal in 1962).[7]
The Architecture award was endowed by Thomas Alwyn Lloyd and is given in conjunction with the Design Commission for Wales and the Royal Society of Architects in Wales , who advise the Eisteddfod judges.[1]
The award is given to practitioners working in Wales, and a language rule has been in force since 1950 that any original words in art works must be in the Welsh language .[8] In 2013 there was controversy when a video entirely in English by England-born University of Wales Newport student Josephine Sowden was awarded the Fine Art medal.[9] [10]
In January 2014 the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) and Craft in the Bay , Cardiff held an exhibition showcasing the work of previous winners of the Fine Art and the Craft awards.[2]
The 2014 Open Exhibition exhibited the work of 44 artists, selected from 300 entries.[6]
Winners
Fine Art
Source: The National Eisteddfod of Wales
2016 – Richard Bevan, for a collection of short films shown on projectors[11]
2015 – Glyn Baines - aged 84 the award's oldest ever winner[12]
2014 – Sean Edwards, for his video Maelfa of a shopping centre in Llanedeyrn , Cardiff[6]
2013 – Josephine Sowden, for her video The Lilies of the Field [9]
2012 – Carwyn Evans, for his installations based on agricultural machinery[1]
2011 – Bedwyr Williams , for his mixed media work including carved wellington boots stuffed with straw[13]
2010 – Simon Fenoulhet
2009 – Elfyn Lewis
2008 – David Hastie
2007 – Emrys Williams, for his paintings of imaginary landscapes.[14]
2006 – Aled Rhys Hughes
2005 – Peter Finnemore
2004 – Stuart Lee
2003 – Tim Davies
2002 – Ifor Davies
2001 – Phil Nicol
2000 – Sue Williams
1999 – Lois Williams
1998 – Brendan Burns
1997 – Iwan Bala
1996 – No winner
1995 – Paul Brewer
1994 – Mary Griffiths
1993 – Brendan Burns
1992 – Shani Rhys James
1991 – No winner
1990 – Gareth Hugh Davies
1989 – No winner
1988 – Keith Roberts
1987 – Keith Bowen
1986 – Simon Callery
1985 – Alistair Crawford
1968–1984 – Medal not offered
1967 – No winner
1966 – Merlyn Evans
1965 – No winner
1964 – David Jones
1963 – Medal not offered
1962 – Josef Herman [7]
1961 – Ceri Richards
1959–1960 – Medal not offered
1958 – Denys Short
1957 – George Chapman
1956 – John Elwyn
1955 – D. C. Roberts
1954 – Charles Burton
1953 – Brenda Chamberlain
1952 – Medal not offered
1951 – Brenda Chamberlain
Architecture
2023 – Nidus Architects and Rural Office, for their extension of a 17-century Welsh longhouse Pen-y-common near Hay-on-Wye [15]
2019 – Featherstone Young, London, for Tŷ Pawb , Wrexham[16]
2018 – KKE Architects, Worcester, for their work on St Davids Hospice Care in Newport[16]
2017 – Stride Treglown, for Ysgol Bae Baglan, Port Talbot[16]
2016 – Hall & Bednarczyk, for the Visitor and Water Sports Centre, Llandegfedd [16]
2015 – Loyn & Co , for Millbrook House, in Lisvane , Cardiff. This was the first time since 1985 that a winner had won two years in succession.[17]
2014 – Loyn & Co, for 'Stormy Castle', a sustainable home on the Gower Peninsula [18]
2013 – John Pardey Architects, for 'Trewarren', a house in Pembrokeshire [18]
2012 – HLM Architects, for Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School , Bridgend [18]
2011 – Ellis Williams Architects, for Oriel Mostyn , Llandudno [18]
2010 – Medal not awarded [18]
2009 – Ray Hole Architects , for Hafod Eryri visitor centre, Snowdon [18]
2008 – Purcell Miller Tritton , for Blaenavon World Heritage Centre , Blaenavon [18]
2007 – Loyn & Co, for the Water Tower, Cyncoed , Cardiff, breaking the normal tradition of making the award for a public building.[14]
2006 – Richard Rogers , for the Senedd , Cardiff[18]
2005 – Capita Percy Thomas , Cardiff, for the Wales Millennium Centre , Cardiff[19]
2004 – Powell Dobson Architects, Cardiff, for the Brewery Quarter area, Cardiff[16]
2003 – Nicholas Hare Architects, London, for No 1 Callaghan Square , Cardiff[16]
2002 – Pembroke Design Ltd, Pembroke Dock, for Ysgol Bro Dewi, St Davids[16]
2001 – David Lea and Pat Borer, Pen-y-bont Fawr, for WISE at the Centre for Alternative Technology , Machynlleth [16]
2000 – Foster + Partners , London, for the Great Glasshouse, National Botanic Garden of Wales , Llanarthne [16]
1999 – Smith Roberts Associates, Bristol, for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Visitor Centre, St Davids[16]
1998 – Arup , London, for the Control Techniques Research and Development HQ, Newtown[16]
1997 – PCKO Architects, Middlesex, for The Swansea Foyer, Swansea[16]
1996 – Holder Mathias Alcock, Cardiff, for the NCM Building (now Atradius), Cardiff Bay[16]
1995 – No medal awarded [16]
1994 – No medal awarded [16]
1993 – Niall Phillips Architects, Bristol, for Lower Treginnis Farm, St Davids[16]
1992 – No medal awarded[16]
1991 – Allen Jenkins and Phil Read, South Glamorgan County Council , for the County Hall , Butetown , Cardiff[16]
1990 – No medal awarded [16]
1989 – No medal awarded [16]
1988 – Welsh Health Common Services Authority, for the Ystradgynlais Community Hospital , Ystradgynlais , Powys [16]
1987 – Merfyn Roberts and Dewi-Prys Thomas, for Gwynedd Council, Caernarfon[16]
1986 – Welsh Health Common Services Authority Architects, for the Mold Community Hospital , Mold, Flintshire [16]
1985 – Bowen Dann Davies Partnership, Colwyn Bay, for National Outdoor Centre for Wales , Plas Menai [16]
1984 – Bowen Dann Davies Partnership, Colwyn Bay, for Capel y Groes, Wrexham[16]
1983 – Percy Thomas Partnership , Cardiff, for Amersham International Laboratories, Cardiff[16]
1982 – Bowen Dann Davies Partnership, Colwyn Bay, for Hafan Elen, Llanrug, Caernarfon[16]
1981 – No medal awarded [16]
1980 – No medal awarded [16]
1979 – Percy Thomas Partnership , Cardiff, for the Hugh Owen Building, Aberystwyth University , Aberystwyth[16]
1978 – Percy Thomas Partnership , Cardiff, for St Fagans National Museum of History , St Fagans , Cardiff[16]
1977 – Bowen Dann Partnership for the Hostel, Cefndy Road, Rhyl[16]
1976 – Percy Thomas Partnership , Cardiff, for the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Building, Pontypool[16]
1975 – John Sam Williams, Pwllheli, for the Special School in Y Ffôr, Pwllheli[16]
1974 – Percy Thomas Partnership , Cardiff, for Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court Care Home, Porthcawl[16]
1973 – No medal awarded [16]
1972 – T G Jones and J R Evans, for Little Orchard, Dinas Powys[16]
1971 – Percy Thomas Partnership , Cardiff, for the Great Hall and Students Union , Aberystwyth University , Aberystwyth[16]
1970 – Sir Percy Thomas and Son , Cardiff, for the Physics and Mathematics Building, Swansea University , Swansea[16]
1969 – Ormrod Partnership, Liverpool, for the Pilkington Perkin-Elmer Building, St Asaph[16]
1968 – Hird & Brooks, Cardiff, for The Gore (house and swimming pool) , Llantrisant Road, Llandaff , Cardiff[16]
1967 – No medal awarded [16]
1966-61 – Medal not offered [16]
1960 – G Grenfell Baines & Hargreaves, Preston, for the H. J. Heinz Offices, Cardiff[16]
1959-54 – No medal awarded [16]
Craft and design
Source: The National Eisteddfod of Wales
2016 – Lisa Kriegel, from New York but based in Cardiff, for 18 stoneware towers[11]
2015 – Rhian Hâf, for her glasswork collection, Cipio Eiliadau (Captured Moments)[12]
2014 – Susan Phillips for her ceramic sculptures[20]
2013 – Josephine Sowden for her video The Lilies of the Field .[21]
2012 – Anne Gibbs, for her ceramic and found media assemblages[1]
2011 – Peter Bodenham (Head of Ceramics at Coleg Sir Gâr )[13]
2010 – Natalia Dias
2009 – Lowri Davies
2008 – Suzie Horan
2007 – Medal not awarded , "although the submission included work of quality, there was not enough of it."[14]
2006 – Carol Gwizdak
2005 – Pamela Rawnsley
2004 – Walter Keeler
2003 – Mari Thomas
2002 – No winner
2001 – Claire Curneen
2000 – Christine Jones
1999 – David Binns
1998 – Catrin Howell
1997 – Marcelle Davies
1996 – Steve Howlett
1995 – Gavin Fraser Williams
1994 – Marcus Thomas
1993 – Ann Catrin Evans
1992 – Cefyn Burgess
1991 – Linda Roberts
1990 – Morgen Hall
1989 – No winner
1988 – Jaqueline Jones
1987 – Eleri Mills
1986 – Gina Raby
1985 – Martin Fraser (first winner)
Arts and Craft / Gelfyddyd a Chrefft
1974 - Harry Meadows
1976 - Harry Meadows