Model box by Linbury finalist Sibylle Wallum for The Emperor Jones at the Gate theatre, Notting Hill Model box by Linbury finalist Sibylle Wallum for The Emperor Jones at the Gate theatre, Notting Hill
Picture Credit: Adrian Brooks

The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design 2005

Rules and Conditions of Entry

The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design aims to promote Theatre Designers at the outset of their careers. Applications will be considered with this objective in mind.

1. Eligibility

  1. The Linbury Biennial is open to final year students and graduates from 2004 from Theatre Design degree or postgraduate courses recognised on the website of the Society of British Theatre Designers: www.theatredesign.org.uk or by the Association of Courses in Theatre Design
  2. Applications will be accepted from students of any nationality, provided they are officially resident in the UK and intend and have permission to remain so until the end of the year 2006.

2. Timetable

DateEvent
Monday 12 MayApplication period opens
Thursday 30 JuneDeadline for receipt of entry forms and portfolios at:
The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design
Kallaway Ltd
2 Portland Road
Holland Park
London, W11 4LA
Telephone: 020 7221 7883
Facsimile: 020 7229 4595
Email: linburybiennial@kallaway.co.uk
By Fri 8 JulyInitial Sift of candidates by portfolio and notification of selected candidates. Up to 40 will be selected to proceed to the First Selection Stage on 18 or 19 July
Mon 18 & Tues 19 JulyFirst Selection Days at the National Theatre. Candidates attend with their portfolios to meet Designer Judges. Up to 24 will be shortlisted to proceed to Designers Day on 29 July
Weds 20 JulyNotification of shortlisted candidates
Fri 29 JulyDesigners Day at the National Theatre Candidates attend with their portfolios to meet company representatives. Twelve finalists will be selected to proceed to the next stage and will be allocated to one of the four commissioning companies
August - OctoberFinalists briefed on design projects and prepare work for the Linbury Biennial Prize Exhibition. Production meetings take place by arrangement with the commissioning companies
Weds 9 NovemberExhibition get-in at the National Theatre
Thur 10 NovemberFinal Judging at the National Theatre
w/c 14 NovemberPrivate View of the Exhibition followed by the Announcement of Linbury Biennial Prize Winners
Sat 10 DecemberFinal day of the Linbury Biennial Prize Exhibition
Mon 12 DecemberAll Linbury Biennial design work removed from the National Theatre
2006The four Linbury Biennial Prize commissions realised

3. Prizes and commissions

  1. £1,000 for each of the candidates selected for the Linbury Biennial Prize Exhibition. This is intended to cover expenses incurred in preparation of the Exhibition material. Any expenses incurred above this amount will not be met by the Linbury Biennial Administration.
  2. The overall winner of the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design 2005 will receive £3,000 prize money. The other winners will each receive £2,000 prize money.
  3. The winners’ commission fee is set at £2,500. An additional £500 is available for expenses necessarily incurred by the candidate during the period of his/her commission. The Linbury Trust will also provide a grant to the company towards the production costs of the commissions.
  4. Following the announcement of results, the winners of the Linbury Biennial Prize will be notified of the terms and conditions of their commission by the commissioning company.
  5. The organisers of the Linbury Biennial Prize reserve the right not to award any commissions. In the event that a completed commission proves unacceptable to the commissioning company, the designer’s commission fee will be paid in full. The organisers of the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design have no jurisdiction over the commissioning company and the working relationship established between the parties.
  6. The productions for which the grant is offered, and for which the four winners’ design commissions are available, must take place during the calendar year 2006. Should any unforeseen delay occur, application may be made to the Linbury Biennial Committee through the Administration for the grant to be held over and made available at a later date, at the Committee’s discretion. The Linbury Trust reserves the right to withhold the grant in the event of postponement or cancellation of the production/s.

4. Items required for judging

I Initial Applications

Applications should initially be made by portfolio to the following specifications:

  1. No larger than A2
  2. No more than 12 pages (24 sides)
  3. Portfolios submitted on pc compatible CD Rom will be accepted providing they show an equivalent amount and detail of work. CD Roms should contain still images in powerpoint, pdf or jpg format.
  4. The portfolio or digital equivalent should contain evidence and still photographs of at least one complete project, eg different scenes, costumes etc and should include illustration of thought process through drawings, storyboards, explanation of scene changes, costume designs, model photographs, technical drawings, still images of performance etc.
  5. The portfolio should not contain any work that is not your own and should not be accompanied by any 3D models or research photocopies
  6. All work should be clearly labelled and numbered
  7. We strongly recommend that colour copies are submitted, not original artwork
  8. Candidates must also include a current CV, and may include a personal statement detailing their approach to design. The statement must be no more than one side of A4 at font size 10 or larger, to a maximum of 300 words
  9. Work of unsuccessful candidates will not be posted back but will be available for collection from the Linbury Biennial administration by arrangement. Work of successful candidates will be held by the Linbury Biennial Administration and may be used in the promotion of the Prize. It will be returned to the candidates at the First Selection Days
  10. We strongly recommend applications are sent to the administration by registered post

II First Selection Days

Those candidates who are invited to the First Selection Days must be available to come to the National Theatre on 18 and 19 July with their full portfolios. Candidates will have approximately 10 - 15 minutes with each of the judges with which to present their portfolios and should be prepared to answer any questions on their work.

III Designers Day

Those candidates who are invited to the Designers Day must be available to come to the National Theatre on 29 July with their full portfolios. Candidates will have approximately 10 – 15 minutes with each of the commissioning company representatives with which to present their portfolios and should be prepared to answer any questions on their work.

Candidates are responsible for transporting their work to and from the National Theatre, although reasonable travel expenses may be available.

IV Linbury Biennial Exhibition

Finalists shall provide the following items for judging at the National Theatre on 10 November:

  1. One model, scale 1:25
  2. One ground plan, scale 1:25. Entrants will be required to design to the theatre specification of the appropriate company
  3. Elevations/working drawings of built scenic pieces, and one example of a technical prop drawing if appropriate. Scale 1:25
  4. Six or more costume designs plus notes of the overall colour schemes (examples of fabrics may also be included)
  5. One or more set designs showing the use of light together with indications in sketch form of the remaining acts in the production
  6. A storyboard in the form of drawings of sets including characters/performers
  7. A short text for inclusion in the exhibition (maximum 150 words), describing the designer’s approach to the project

All items should be clearly labelled on the reverse with the designer’s name.

5. The Linbury Biennial Prize Exhibition

  1. Exhibits (both flat work and models) must be completed by 8 November.
    Finalists should make their selection of items for display according to the allocated space before arriving at the National Theatre, as working time on the get-in day (9 November) is restricted and displays, including models, must be completed to exhibition standard by 5pm.
  2. Items for exhibition shall be selected from those listed in Rule 4 above. Each finalist will be allocated a display space for flat work, with an adjacent model stand. All items selected for display must be mounted to exhibition standard and displayed within the allocated area.
  3. Finalists are reminded of the necessity to fix items neatly and securely. Any items inadequately or untidily fixed will be removed.
  4. Models should not be fixed down until after judging has been completed.
  5. Exhibits must be removed from the National Theatre on Monday 12 December. Any items remaining thereafter will be disposed of. Finalists need not attend in person, but must arrange for their work to be removed on this date.

6. Judging

  1. Finalists will be called as required for judging on 10 November.
  2. Any relevant sketchbooks or additional material to be seen by the judges must be brought in and taken home by finalists on the appropriate day or days.
  3. Finalists are responsible for fixing models down securely ready for exhibition once judging is completed.

7. Transport of design work

Candidates are responsible for transporting their portfolios and their Exhibition material to and from the National Theatre at their own expense.

8. Copyright

The organisers may reproduce in whole or in part the material submitted and may license other people to do so. Candidates will reserve copyright. Candidates will reserve copyright to all material submitted by them to the Competition.

9. Insurance

All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure the safety of entrants’ work while it is at the National Theatre, but neither the Linbury Trust, the National Theatre nor Kallaway Ltd can accept responsibility for any loss or damage. Candidates are reminded of the necessity to make their own insurance arrangements to cover their work both while in transit and while at the National Theatre. Work submitted for judging shall remain at all times at the candidate’s risk.

10. General

  1. The right is reserved to refuse entry to the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design, and to refuse items proposed for exhibition.
  2. The judges’ decisions are final. Neither correspondence nor discussion concerning any decision may be entered into.
  3. Following the exhibition, each of the twelve finalists will be required to produce a short report on their participation in the Biennial, for submission to the Biennial Committee. The four winners will also be required to produce a short report on their experiences with the commissioning company. Guidelines will be given to assist with content.
  4. The Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design is managed for the Linbury Trust by Kallaway Ltd.
  5. The right is reserved to reproduce in whole or in part any material submitted to the Competition or to license other people to do so for use in press and publicity materials. This use may include but not be limited to print items and websites.

The right is reserved to make any changes to the published programme as may be deemed necessary.

Please find the entry form below, to be completed in BLOCK CAPITALS and returned by Thursday 30th June, 2005.

2005 Entry Form (PDF)