Stevens’ Architectural Glass Artist of the Year 2016 Competition Launch

  • The competition brief is for the design and creation of a memorial window to the crew of The Titanic.
  • Full details  are available on the Glaziers’ Company website
  • Competition open to architectural glass and design students, or those with less than five years in practice.
  • First prize £1000 in cash.
  • Unique opportunity for entrants to win a commission

 The Glaziers’ Company has announced that the prestigious Stevens’ Architectural Glass Art Competition 2016 is now open.

 Competition entrants are required to design a Memorial Window dedicated to the crew of the Titanic, to be installed at historic St Mary’s in Southampton. The Church is closely connected with the ship which sailed from Dock Gate 4 close by.

 A total of eight hundred and eighty-five (885) crew were aboard the ill- fated ship, and six hundred and seventy-three (673) perished. Of the dead crew, some five hundred and fifty (550) came from Southampton, at the time a great tragedy for the city.

 There are several memorials around the world commemorating many of those who lost their lives on The Titanic.  St Mary’s itself has a memorial to the ship’s musicians who famously played on as she sank. Yet, no memorial exists to commemorate all the crew together and the tragedy they suffered.

 The Chairman of the Glaziers’ Company Craft & Competitions Committee, Andy Lane, said:

“This year’s competition will enable entrants to showcase their skill and creativity and gives them a real chance of winning a commission. We’d like to encourage as many student and new architectural glass artists and designers to enter as possible.”

 Michael Holman, the Stevens Awards Scheme Co-ordinator explained: “We are asking all entrants to incorporate a quotation from the Old Testament book Song of Songs ‘Many Waters Cannot Quench Love’ in their design, together with the emblem of the White Star, the company that owned the ship.”

 Friends of St Mary’s Church, together with the British Titanic Society, have been campaigning to raise funds for the window. The final decision about which of the entrants will receive the design commission rests with the church and the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC).

 The British Titanic Society’s crew memorial window fundraising page can be found at:

http://www.britishtitanicsociety.com/a-special-appeal-on-behalf-of-st-marys-church-southampton/

 The entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of glass artists and designers.

 The closing date for receipt of entries is: Thursday 31st March 2016.

 The winners will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony at Glaziers Hall, for the Stevens Competition and other awards, in London onTuesday 31st May 2016.