P & O Makower Trust Commission

Call for entries: P & O Makower Trust Commission

2024 commission for Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is pleased to invite entries for the P & O Makower (1974) Trust Silver Commission. An exciting opportunity that looks to support recently graduated and early-career silversmiths in the creation of a major piece of silver that will go on display at National Museum Cardiff.

For 50 years, the P & O Makower (1974) Trust has commissioned major objects of silver to go on long-term loan to national museums throughout the UK including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, National Museums Scotland and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. Notable previous commissions have been awarded to Chris Knight, Ndidi Ekubia, Theresa Nguyen and Adi Toch.

The purpose of the commission is both to support a recently graduated or early-career silversmith to extend their craft as well as to exhibit their work in one of the UK’s leading museums. The value of the commission is £6,000 to include materials and making.

This commission will be for the creation of a new work in silver and will prioritise individuals who use traditional methods in new and exciting ways, such as by embracing digital technology or developing new techniques for working metal. Applicants may wish to explore the use of silver in conjunction with other metals or materials. Please note that any additional materials must degrade at the same rate as silver and materials such as plastic and rubber will not be accepted.

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales was founded by royal charter in 1907. It houses one of Britain’s most important collections of silver, ranging in date from the medieval period to the 21st century and featuring major pieces from all periods, many of them associated with Welsh families. In recent years, the Museum has developed a growing collection of contemporary metalwork that includes works by makers such as Hiroshi Suzuki, Pamela Rawnsley, Miriam Hanid and Rauni Higson.

The successful commission will be displayed at National Museum Cardiff alongside previous commissions by the P&O Makower Trust and other contemporary silver. Key moments in the development and making of the piece will be documented on the Celf ar y Cyd website (celfarycyd.wales).

The judges for the competition will include staff of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, the Makower family and professionals from the silversmithing craft.

To Apply

If you would like to be considered for this commission, please send via www.wetransfer.com a full CV with contact details and a personal statement about your practice, together with 6 high quality photographs, no less than 300dpi, of your work by 5.00p.m. on Monday 8 April 2024 by email to andrew.renton@museumwales.ac.uk.

Applicants should provide examples of at least three different objects. Please note that (a) jewellery is not permitted within this commission and (b) entries are sought from recently (last seven years) graduated or early-career silversmiths. The images should be a minimum of A5 in size and 300 dpi. Any queries should be directed by email to Andrew Renton, Head of Design Collections.

From the images and statement supplied the judges will select a shortlist of candidates who will be invited to present more detailed sketches of their proposed piece to the panel at National Museum Cardiff. It is envisaged that the shortlist will be announced by the end of April 2024 and those shortlisted will be interviewed in June 2024. Reasonable travel expenses for shortlisted candidates will be covered by the Trust.