The Musgrave Medal is an annual award by the Institute of Jamaica in recognition of achievement in art, science, and literature.[1] Originally conceived in 1889 and named in memory of Sir Anthony Musgrave, the founder of the Institute and the former Governor of Jamaica who had died the previous year, the medal was the first to be awarded in the Western Hemisphere.
The medals were initially awarded as prizes in a cultural competition. In 1941 the Gold Medal was initiated and awarded in recognition of a "distinguished eminence". The first recipient of the gold medal was artist Edna Manley in recognition of her work promoting art and literature. A Silver Medal, recognizing "outstanding merit", and Bronze Medal, for merit, are also awarded.[2][3]
The medal was designed by British sculptor Alfred Toft. The first medal was awarded in 1897, as part of Jamaica's celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Until 1906 the medals were only given as prizes in art and craft competitions organised by the Institute.
In 2011, eight Musgrave Medals were awarded, with a gold medal for Hedley Jones, designer and builder of Jamaica's first solid body electric guitar in 1940, and builder of audio equipment including some of Jamaica's early sound systems and much of the equipment in Studio One.[4]
Gold Medal winners
- 2022: Lenford Salmon, theater and culture; Joy Spence, chemist and master blender; Diana McCaulay, author and environmental activist[5]
- 2021: Ishion Hutchinson, literature, Mona Webber, science, Steven Woodham, music;
- 2019: Michael Bucknor, academia; Winston Ewart, music[6]
- 2018: Peter Ashbourne, music; Basil Burke, science; Mervyn Morris, literature[7]
- 2017: Herbert Ho Ping Kong, science[8]
- 2016: No medals awarded
- 2015: Sly and Robbie, music; Orlando Patterson, literature[9]
- 2014: Anthony C. Winkler, literature; Petrona Morrison, education; Celia Christie-Samuels, medical research[10]
- 2013: Lee “Scratch” Perry, music; Franklin W. Knight, social history [11]
- 2012: Horace Fletcher, medical science; Edward Baugh, poetry and scholarship [12]
- 2011: Hedley Jones, music and audio engineering
- 2010: Terrence Forrester, science
- 2009: Wycliffe Bennett, arts development; Maureen Warner-Lewis, literature[13]
- 2008: Carey Robinson, community development & heritage; Mercedes Richards, astronomy
- 2007: Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, development of Jamaican music; Bertram Fraser-Reid, chemistry
- 2006: Kamau Brathwaite, literature
- 2005: Richard Hart, history
- 2004: Olive Senior, documenting Jamaican heritage; Mico College, recognizing the importance of Jamaican culture
- 2003: Chris Blackwell, development of Jamaican music; Franklyn Prendergast, medicine
- 2002: David Pottinger, art; Clement Seymore 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, music
- 2001: Hon. Lawson Douglas, urology
- 2000: Monty Alexander, music; Basil Barrington Watson, art ; University Singers, music
- 1999: Erna Brodber, literature ; Errol Morrison, medical science ; Lorna Goodison, poetry
- 1998: Jamaica Library Service, literature ; University of the West Indies
- 1997: No gold medal awarded
- 1996: Sir Roy Augier, Caribbean education history; Stuart Hall, sociological studies
- 1995: David Boxer, art through institution building and scholarship; Graham Roger Serjeant, medical science; John Golding, medical science
- 1994: Peter Abrahams, fiction and journalism ; Manley West, pharmacology
- 1993: No gold medal awarded
- 1989–92: Osmond Watson, art; Barry Higman, history; Gerald Lalor, science: Robert Hill, history
- 1988: Alfred Sangster, science and technical education ; Trevor Rhone, drama ; Clive Thompson, dance
- 1987: Olive Lewin, music ; Carl Abrahams, art ; Francis Nicholas, dance
- 1986: Derek Walcott, literature ; Kenneth E.N. Ingram, librarianship and history scholarship
- 1985: Mallica 'Kapo' Reynolds, painting and sculpture
- 1984: Cecil A. Baugh, ceramics
- 1983: Frederic G. Cassidy, philology and etymology
- 1982: Clinton Black, history (archival development)
- 1981: Rex Nettleford, dance and West Indian cultural development
- 1980: George Proctor, botany
- 1979: No gold medal awarded
- 1978: Louise Bennett, poetry and theatre
- 1977: Alicia Alonso, artistic excellence ; Ronald Moody, sculpture
- 1976: Victor Stafford Reid, literature
- 1975: Little Theatre Movement, theatre
- 1974: Nicolas Guillen, literature ; Albert Huie, art
- 1973: No gold medal awarded
- 1972: M. G. Smith, anthropology
- 1971: Amy Jacques Garvey, history
- 1970: Alvin Marriott, sculpture
- 1969: Ansel Hart, history
- 1968: Roger Mais, literature, posthumously
- 1967: No gold medal awarded
- 1966: Phillip Sherlock, history and literature
- 1965: Theodore E. Sealy, cultural development
- 1959–64: No gold medals awarded
- 1958: J.E. Clare McFarlane, poetry
- 1955–57: No gold medals awarded
- 1954: W. Adolphe Roberts, history literature
- 1952–53: No gold medals awarded
- 1951: George Goode, music
- 1944–50: No gold medals awarded
- 1943: Ena Ada Josephine, art and literature
- 1942: No gold medal awarded
- 1941: Edna Manley, art and literature (first award)
References
- ↑ Webster, Valerie J. (2000), Awards, Honors & Prizes, Volume 2, Gale Group, ISBN 978-0787634056, p. 447.
- ↑ Aarons, John A (1989). "Recognizing Excellence: The Musgrave Medals of the Institute of Jamaica". Jamaica Journal. 22 (2): 19–23.
- ↑ "Musgrave Medals Presentation", Institute of Jamaica, 30 December 2015.
- ↑ "Honouring Headley - Veteran musician receives Musgrave Gold medal", Jamaica Observer, 14 October 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ↑ Perry, Kediesha (November 24, 2022). "10 get Musgrave Medals". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ↑ Johnson, Richard (2019) "Musgrave Medals for 10", Jamaica Observer, 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019
- ↑ Small, Kimberley (2018) "Musgrave Medal Awards Pioneers", Jamaica Gleaner, 14 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2019
- ↑ McGibbon, Andrea (2017) "2017 Musgrave Medals to Outstanding Jamaicans", Jamaicans.com, 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019
- ↑ "Sly and Robbie strike gold", Jamaica Observer, 22 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015
- ↑ "Anthony Winkler and Jasmine Thomas-Girvan reap Musgrave Gold". susumba. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ↑ "Eight Outstanding Jamaicans Awarded Musgrave Medals". Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ↑ "Musgrave Awardees". Institute of Jamaica. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ↑ Cooke, Mel (18 October 2009). "Gold for Warner-Lewis, Silver for Miller: Writers among 2009 Musgrave MedallistsGold for Warner-Lewis, Silver for Miller: Writers among 2009 Musgrave Medallists". The Gleaner. Kingston, Jamaica. p. 65. Retrieved 16 July 2020 – via Newspaperarchive.com.