The most inclusive award for taught coursework in the UK relating to the past and future of valued places is now ready to receive online submissions, as The Institute of Historic Building Conservation’s (IHBC) 2014 Annual Gus Astley Student Award – GASA 2014 – is launched, with a closing date of 31 July 2014 and with guidance to be found at http://gasa.ihbc.org.uk/
If you lead, present or participate in taught courses or modules in any areas ranging from history, heritage skills and management, to planning, regeneration and design, please circulate this news across your student and training networks.
Jo Evans, IHBC’s Past Chair, said: ‘Our annual award is critically important for the IHBC, and for the heritage conservation industry as a whole. It highlights the best of the diverse specialisms and career routes that underpin successful conservation – from engineering to history and from early career students and trainees to established professionals modernising their skills.’
Bob Kindred, Chair of the Gus Astley Trustees and Vice Chair of the IHBC Education Committee, said: ‘The significance of the Awards grows each year and in recognition successful candidates receive not only a cash prize but also the offer of a free place at the Institute’s major training event, its three-day Annual School, which in 2014 will be in Scotland between 4 and 6 June. The winners in the 2012 Award had the opportunity to attend our School in Carlisle last June, and receive their prizes at the IHBC’s Annual School Dinner.’
Process: For a chance to win a £300 cash prize, applicants need only submit digital versions of work assessed on taught courses ending in July 2013 or 2014. Free places at the IHBC’s Annual School, valued at around £500, are also offered to chosen entrants. The 2014 School will take place in Edinburgh and takes the ‘Art of conservation’ as its theme. The 2015 School, which will be the venue for the lucky winners of the 2014 Award, will take place in Norwich.
Background: The Gus Astley Student Award is presented each year for taught coursework that is considered to be of exceptional value and quality by the institute’s guest judge that year. The IHBC selects a different leading practitioner within a major employer to serve as judge. Staff from Historic Scotland, English Heritage, Cadw, the National Trust and, in 2012, the National Trust for Scotland, are among those who have agreed to serve in that role to date.
Eligible course work may deal with any aspect of places, buildings, features or areas that relates to conservation, including history, heritage site management and planning, new architecture or investigative research. There are no restrictions on discipline, type of taught coursework, group numbers or age. The only requirements for eligibility are that the entry should represent a relevant and quality submission assessed as part of a UK taught course in the UK and completed in the academic years ending July 2013 or 2014. The entry (or an appropriate record of the entry if it is not in a digitized format) must be submitted using the IHBC’s online procedures. Should the entry be selected for an award by the judge, the IHBC will require authentication by the relevant tutor.
The IHBC Award website gives full details on the process and terms of the award, including how to submit digitally in accordance with our guidelines: http://gasa.ihbc.org.uk/index.html
Download here: IHBC Gus Astley Annual Student Award 2014 Flyer
Download here: IHBC GUS ASTLEY STUDENT AWARD 2014 GUIDELINES
For the IHBC’s recognised conservation courses see: LINK
For training events covering IHBC’s specialist interests see: LINK
For the IHBC’s press notice on the 2012 Award, see: LINK
