The British Art Medal Society (BAMS) was founded in 1982 to promote the art of the medal through commissions, exhibitions, publications and events. The society is affiliated to FIDEM (the Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d’Art).[1]

Mark Jones, the then curator of British Museum Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, and Ron Dutton, a medallist and sculptor, were key people in forming the society,[2] when its formation was announced in the US periodical Coin World.[3]

BAMS commissions medals from internationally recognised sculptors as well as from students and recent art college graduates. Portraiture, abstraction, political comment and celebration are all features of their medals. Most are cast in bronze and patinated by the artist.[4] The society also gives advice to individuals and organisations who are thinking of commissioning a medal.

Publications

The Medal, the Society’s international journal, is published by the British Art Medal Trust[5] and also based at the British Museum Department of Coins and Medals, London.[6] Fully illustrated, it contains articles on historical and contemporary medals and their makers, book reviews, and news about medallic events and exhibitions worldwide.[7] The society occasionally publishes other books of medallic interest.[8]

Books

The President’s Medal

The President's Medal is awarded to individuals and organisations that have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the study of historical medals and/or the production of contemporary medals. The President’s Medal has been awarded to:[15]

Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art

The Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art is run by the Marsh Charitable Trust in partnership with BAMS. Its aim is to recognise an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to the understanding, appreciation and encouragement of the art of the medal. These have been awarded since 2011. Previous winners are:[16]

Student Medal Project

In 1994 the society initiated the Student Medal Project. The Director is Marcy Leavitt Bourne. The project was designed to introduce art colleges in the UK and their students to the art medal. It offers students the challenge of designing and making an art medal on any subject, enabling them to participate in an international art project, learn bronze casting, have a chance to exhibit nationally & internationally, win a prize and have their work published. One of the prizes is sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Cutlers who are supporters of the project.[17] The Honourable Mention Prize [18] [19] [20] is awarded by Bigbury Mint Ltd.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Association Members". FIDEM. International Art Medal Federation. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  2. ^ The Medal, Pub. British Art Medal Trust, Issue 50 (2007) "25 years ago"
  3. ^ Coin World, Periodical, Issue date : 19 May 1982
  4. ^ "BAMS Home Page". British Art Medal Society (BAMS). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. ^ British Art Medal Trust - UK registered charity no. 288869.
  6. ^ "The British Art Medal Trust". UK Charity Commission. UK GOV. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  7. ^ The Medal. Worldcat. OCLC 10634993.
  8. ^ The Medal (ISSN 0263-7707 ed.). British Art Medal Trust.
  9. ^ Wohlfahrt, Cordula (1992). Christian Wermuth, ein deutscher Medailleur der Barockzeit = Christian Wermuth, a German medallist of the Baroque age. British Art Medal Society. ISBN 978-0-9514271-1-8.
  10. ^ Eimer, Christopher (1998). The Pingo family and medal making in 18th-century Britain. British Art Medal Society. ISBN 978-0951427163.
  11. ^ Jones, Mark (1994). Designs on posterity : drawings for medals : papers read at FIDEM 1992, the 23rd congress of the Fédération Internationale de la Médaille held in London, 16-19 September 1992. British Art Medal Trust. ISBN 978-0951427132.
  12. ^ Attwood, Philip (2002). British art medals 1982-2002. British Art Medal Society. ISBN 978-0953698837.
  13. ^ Leavitt Bourne & Vandenvrouck-Przybylski (2012). The new medallists. British Art Medal Trust. ISBN 978-0-9558895-4-7.
  14. ^ Leavitt Bourne, Marcy (2020). Contemporary Art Medals: The Bams Student Medal Project XXVI/2020. British Art Medal Trust. ISBN 978-1526208347.
  15. ^ "Winners of The President's Medal & Marsh Award". British Art Medal Society. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art". Marsh Charitable Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Affiliations". Worshipful Company of Cutlers. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Student Medal Project 2016". bams.org.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  19. ^ "BAMS Student Medal Project 2019 prizes and awards". bams.org.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  20. ^ "HOLD IT! The Art of the Modern Medal: British Art Medal Society Student Medal Project - What's On - New Ashgate Gallery and Shop". www.newashgate.org.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Bigbury Mint • Medal Makers - Commemorative and Military". Medal Makers - Commemorative and Military. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
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