The Poly announces the relaunch of its Medal Awards
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (RCPS/The Poly) will be championing excellence in science, industry and the arts by reintroducing its prestigious Medal Awards this year.
First awarded in the 1830s, the medals played a pivotal role in The Poly’s early history. One of the medal recipients was Alfred Nobel in 1865. The relaunch of the Medal Awards, almost two hundred years since the RCPS’s founding, will celebrate the range of exciting, innovative work taking place in Cornwall today across these categories.
The beautifully designed awards will be presented at the Medal Award Ceremony on 20th April at the Alverton Hotel, Truro. This much anticipated event will bring together some of Cornwall’s leading figures in what looks set to be a highlight of Cornwall’s 2023 calendar.
A shortlist of three of the very best Cornwall has to offer in each category has been drawn up by expert judging panels. All those selected are considered Award winners and will receive Medal Certificates recognising their outstanding achievements. In addition, at the Award Ceremony, an RCPS medal will be presented to one winner within each category.
The selection process involved the use of broad criteria to make judgements. This included the originality and significance of the work, the technical expertise or creativity shown and the excellence of the output of those shortlisted. The work considered is current or spans the last five or so years. The aim was to encourage the new and forward-looking, and the next generation of talent of those working in, or having a strong recent connection, with Cornwall. Details of those shortlisted will be released in the coming weeks.
A new RCPS medal, featuring an unfurling fern, has been designed by Cornwall-based artist Lucy Willow and produced in collaboration with medal-makers Bigbury Mint. There will be an opportunity to preview the medal at a special exhibition in The Poly’s Spring Gallery from Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th February, between 10am and 5pm each day.
Ginny Button, Chair of The Poly, says:
“There’s so much creativity and innovation in Cornwall right now. By reintroducing and rethinking the original RCPS Medal Awards we aim to celebrate this and draw attention to leaders in their fields making significant contributions nationally and internationally.
“It’s also a wonderful opportunity to bring different sectors together at an event that we hope will inspire collaboration and excellence in our region.
“The calibre of those shortlisted for this relaunch year is truly outstanding, and we look forward to publicising their work in the coming weeks.”
ENDS: 18th January 2023
THE CORNISH MEDAL: THE ROYAL CORNWALL POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY MEDAL AWARDS (PDF)
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE POLY GUILD SHOP
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (RCPS) would like to thank the Tanner Phoenix Trust Cornwall Community Foundation for supporting the reintroduction of the Medal Awards.
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