DJCAD wins prestigious College Award at national medal competition

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) celebrates its success at the annual British Art Medal Society (BAMS) Student Medal competition, standing out among entries from around 15 art colleges across the UK, as well as select institutions from Europe and the United States. Each year, DJCAD students design and produce medals that address both personal and globally significant themes, ranging from environmental issues and politics to memory and emotion.

Roddy Mathieson, Foundry Manager and long-time coordinator of DJCAD’s medals project, expressed pride in the students’ achievement. “Whilst we usually win some awards at the BAMS Student Medal Competition, this is the first time we have received the College Award, which has required a consistently strong performance from all of our student participants.”

The 'College Award' is granted to the institution whose submissions exhibit exceptional overall quality, creativity, and craftsmanship. This year, the judging panel evaluated the diversity of ideas, originality of concepts, and high standard finish across all entries from DJCAD.

Among the individual accolades, DJCAD student Julie Smith was awarded the prestigious ‘Kate Harrison Award’ for her medal “A Robin”. This award provides the recipient with the opportunity to visit the studio of an established maker, offering invaluable insights into setting up a professional workshop and navigating a career within the arts after university. Additionally, students Marie Henderson (Contemporary Art Practice) and Sarah Macleman (Jewellery and Metal Design) were both recognised with Merit Awards, for coming close to winning.

All medals submitted by DJCAD students were accepted into an exhibition at Hereford School of Art last month. Each medal showcased the individuality and creativity fostered at DJCAD, with topics ranging from wildlife conservation and blood donation to emotional introspection. “Each student was supported to make a bespoke piece of their choice using the processes that are best suited to achieving their ideas.

“We used a variety of techniques, including traditional methods like plaster carving and wax modelling, as well as modern approaches such as 3D printing, silicone moulding, etching, and organic burnout. The medals were cast in bronze and finished with patinas and polishing to enhance their themes.”

At the heart of DJCAD’s success is its exceptional foundry facility, one of only two in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh College of Art. “It is quite a special facility,” Roddy noted. “We have an excellent workshop that handles all processes in lost wax and sand casting, collaborating with many other great facilities in DJCAD to produce a range of works from jewellery to public art.”

This access to advanced facilities allows DJCAD students to graduate with an impressive portfolio of practical skills. “They learn a diverse array of skills, including digital making, welding, mold-making,

and patination, which prepares them to work in professional foundries or launch their own practices,” said Roddy. Notably, DJCAD graduates have gone on to work at major art foundries such as Anthony Gormley's in Hexham and Powderhall Bronze in Edinburgh.

Roddy’s journey is closely tied to DJCAD. As a former sculpture student (1993-1997), Roddy returned to DJCAD in 2002 and has since dedicated himself to developing the foundry and mentoring the next generation of artists. In 2022, his contributions were recognised with the Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art and Bronze Casting.

The medals project, which Roddy has led for over a decade, is conducted entirely on a voluntary basis with students from both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. “It requires a lot of work, but it’s rewarding to see the students participate in the competition and achieve such success. All our students gain hands-on and in-depth experience with these important manufacturing and making processes.

Congratulations to all of our students this year for working so hard on their medals."