Marsh Award Winners 2019

Every year the Marsh Christian Trust recognises some of the outstanding contributions made by volunteers of The Arts Society in the field of heritage conservation and arts education.

We are delighted to announce the 2019 prize-winners:

Church Recording Award
Patricia Francis, The Arts Society Liskeard 

Patricia has been a member of The Arts Society Liskeard since 2000/01. Throughout this time she has provided leadership for their Church Recorders and has been an important player in their Young Arts initiatives. 

Patricia has co-ordinated the volunteer Church Recorders and compiled the documentation for several local churches. She has provided support and shared her knowledge across all aspects of Church Recording for both experienced and novice volunteers. The Record for St. Mary's Sheviock formed part of their successful application for Heritage Lottery Funding. Patricia's leadership in Church Recording has increased awareness of the rich artistic heritage that exists in South-East Cornwall.

Young Arts Award
Celia Mudie, The Arts Society Gerrard's cross

Celia started from scratch four years ago. In a short time she has formed close links with several organisations which encourage and develop children in art, music and dance - some for therapeutic reasons.

Examples of Celia's work includes: Children at the High School, High Wycombe were helped to find their forte with a musical instrument and develop their love of music; Young Carers, High Wycombe were helped with a theatre outing for thirty 6-9 year olds and in the organisation of a fun day including a Mad Hatter's Tea Party; and one of the Society's nominated Young Offenders won an award from the Koestler Trust. 

Trails of Discovery Award
Pauline Stewart, The Arts Society South Devon

Pauline has been a driving force for her own society, the South West area and also as national head of Trails of Discovery.

Pauline has enlarged the remit of Church Trails nationally to include Trails of Discovery and Memory Trails, having inaugurated the first trail of this type in Tavistock, Devon.
The impact in the wider community on children and vulnerable adults living with Dementia has been considerable and in turn has raised the awareness of The Arts Society in the region. 

Trails of Discovery, Highly Commended
SARA SCOtT, The arts Society Guildford

Sara has been volunteering for Trails of Discovery for the past 6/7 years. Now volunteering for the National Team, Sara has empowered local Societies to develop more trails locally. Trails have been an outstanding success in West Surrey under her leadership. 

Group Award Winner (FOR YOUNGS ARTS)
The Arts Society Appleby-In-Westmorland

In the last 3 years the new Chair and Committee of Appleby-in-Westmorland have re-invigorated a failing Society. This was epitomised in their Golden Anniversary Project which was challenging both financially, involving a lot of fund raising, and socially. It was directed at older people facing isolation, mental health issues including dementia and schizophrenia, and learning difficulties coming together in a 10 week art project. 

This small group of vulnerable and isolated people developed confidence and friendship which has led to a complete change in the atmosphere in the care home and are now continuing to work together with a local artist. It was a very ambitious project which has enriched a whole community. 

Society Committee Award, First Prize
The Arts Society Shrewsbury

The Arts Society Shrewsbury's committee works together as a cohesive group, helping and supporting each other.

Achievements include the sourcing of sponsorship from three local companies to fund The Arts Society’s Young Arts Golden Jubilee Bursary for a talented 18-25 year old with a Shropshire connection. The event was covered in the local press raising their profile locally. Their Young Arts representative found sponsorship for prizes for the Illustration Competition of Shrewsbury Bookfest Book Awards competition. The winners were displayed at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. They also sponsored the Shropshire Youth Theatre for materials for costumes and scenery for their productions. Their Heritage Volunteers representative has coordinated work in the Ironbridge Tile Museum and the Shropshire Archives. 

Society Committee Award, Second Prize
The Arts Society Nadder Valley

One of The Arts Society's newest Societies, this Committee is in their inaugural year and have achieved an extraordinary start from their initial committee meeting in January 2018. The first year’s lecture programme was secured by March 2018 and the inaugural lecture was delivered in April 2018. Membership grew from zero in January 2018 and now stands at 250. They host two members lunches a month to introduce the Members to each other to support their goal of creating a friendly and warm society. 

Society Committee Award, International
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand 

In New Zealand, Lecturers are invited to do a circuit of the eight Societies, covering a three week period. By rotation, each Society takes on a two year national coordination role and Hawke's Bay are the coordinating Society for the 2018 and 2019 years.

Programme Secretary, Katherine Halliday, and Treasurer, Deb Renton-Green, have made significant improvements to systems and processes by streamlining the national coordination procedures. This work benefits all of the eight New Zealand Societies, and makes the organisation stronger and more viable for the long term.

Congratulations to all the winners! 

The awards will be presented at our AGM on 15th May 2019.