The Gold Medal (

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

: ''Medal Aur'') of the

National Eisteddfod of Wales The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Eur ...

is awarded annually in three categories for excellence in

Fine Art In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...

Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...

, or Craft and Design.

Background

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

' most important national cultural event, taking place annually. Its open exhibition of art and craft, ''

Y Lle Celf Y Lle Celf ( Welsh 'The Art Place', ) is an annual art, craft and architecture exhibition held during the National Eisteddfod of Wales, claimed to be the biggest temporary art exhibition in Europe. Description Y Lle Celf is created every year for ...

'' (

: 'The Art Space') is one of the highlights of the Welsh arts calendar. Gold medals are awarded in the

Visual Arts The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts al ...

section for outstanding contributions in different media: a Gold Medal for Fine Art has been awarded since 1951; a medal for Architecture has been offered since 1954 (though withheld and not awarded between 1954 and 1959); and a Gold Medal for Craft and Design has been awarded since 1985. Other awards are the Tony Goble Award, given to a first time exhibitor, and the Josef Herman Award, chosen by the public (

Josef Herman Josef Herman (3 January 1911 – 19 February 2000), was a highly regarded Polish-British painter who influenced contemporary art, particularly in the United Kingdom. He was part of a generation of central and eastern European Jewish refuge ...

, a Polish emigree, won the Fine Art medal in 1962). The Architecture award was endowed by Thomas Alwyn Lloyd and is given in conjunction with the Design Commission for Wales and the

Royal Society of Architects in Wales The Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) is the Wales region of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The society was granted Royal status by the Privy Council in 1994. It is based in Cardiff, with four branches throughout Wales ...

, who advise the Eisteddfod judges. The award is given to practitioners working in Wales, and a language rule has been in force since 1950 that any original words in art works must be in the

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language family, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut P ...

. In 2013 there was controversy when a

video Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syste ...

entirely in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

by England-born University of Wales Newport student Josephine Sowden was awarded the Fine Art medal. In January 2014 the

Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre ( cy, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 an ...

(WMC) and

Craft in the Bay The Craft in the Bay Gallery is an exhibition and craft retail area located at the south end of Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff Bay. It was designed by the architect Chris Elford. It is operated by a charitable arts organisation, The Makers Guild in ...

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

held an exhibition showcasing the work of previous winners of the Fine Art and the Craft awards. The 2014 Open Exhibition exhibited the work of 44 artists, selected from 300 entries.

Winners

Fine Art

Source
The National Eisteddfod of Wales

Architecture

* 2019 – Featherstone Young, London, for Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham * 2018 – KKE Architects, Worcester, for their work on St Davids Hospice Care in Newport * 2017 – Stride Treglown, for Ysgol Bae Baglan, Port Talbot * 2016 – Hall & Bednarczyk, for the Visitor and Water Sports Centre, Llandegfedd * 2015 –

Loyn & Co Loyn & Co Architects is an architectural firm based in Penarth near Cardiff, Wales. It was founded by the architect Chris Loyn in 1987. The practice has twice won the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, in 2007 and 2 ...

, for Millbrook House, in

Lisvane Lisvane ( cy, Llys-faen) is an affluent community in the north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, located north of the city centre. Lisvane is generally considered to be one of the wealthiest residential areas of Wales, with an average house ...

, Cardiff. This was the first time since 1979 that a winner had won two years in succession. * 2014 – Loyn & Co, for 'Stormy Castle', a sustainable home on the Gower Peninsula * 2013 – John Pardey Architects, for 'Trewarren', a house in

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; cy, Sir Benfro ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and the rest by sea. The count ...

* 2012 – HLM Architects, for

Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School is a secondary school located in Brackla, Bridgend. The school has a reputation of having highly talented musicians and in 2011 achieved grades far above the national average. 80% of students stay on to ...

Bridgend Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the Old Bridge, Bridgend, medieval bridge ...

* 2011 –

Ellis Williams Architects Ellis is a surname of Welsh and English origin. Retrieved 21 January 2014 An independent French origin of the surname is said to derive from the phrase fleur-de-lis. Surname A *Abe Ellis (Stargate), a fictional character in the TV series ''St ...

, for

Oriel Mostyn Mostyn is a public art gallery in Llandudno, North Wales. It was previously called Oriel Mostyn ('Oriel' is Welsh for 'Gallery') but was rebranded as simply Mostyn following its 2010 revamp. Background The roots of the gallery started with a Miss ...

Llandudno Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2011 UK census, the community – which includes Gogarth, Penrhyn Bay, Craigsi ...

* 2010 – ''Medal not awarded'' * 2009 – Ray Hole Architects, for Hafod Eryri visitor centre,

Snowdon Snowdon () or (), is the highest mountain in Wales, at an elevation of above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside the Scottish Highlands. It is located in Snowdonia National Park (') in Gwynedd (historic ...

* 2008 – Purcell Miller Tritton, for Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, Blaenavon * 2007 – Loyn & Co, for the Water Tower, Cyncoed, Cardiff, breaking the normal tradition of making the award for a ''public'' building. * 2006 –

Richard Rogers Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside (23 July 1933 – 18 December 2021) was a British architect noted for his modernist and Functionalism (architecture), functionalist designs in high-tech architecture. He was a senior partner a ...

, for the

Senedd The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Gove ...

, Cardiff * 2005 – Capita Percy Thomas, Cardiff, for the

, Cardiff * 2004 – Powell Dobson Architects, Cardiff, for the Brewery Quarter area, Cardiff * 2003 – Nicholas Hare Architects, London, for No 1

Callaghan Square Callaghan Square ( cy, Sgwâr Callaghan) is a large public plaza in Cardiff, Wales, previously known as Bute Square. It was developed as part of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme to link central Cardiff with Cardiff Bay. History Cardif ...

, Cardiff * 2002 – Pembroke Design Ltd, Pembroke Dock, for Ysgol Bro Dewi, St Davids * 2001 – David Lea and Pat Borer, Pen-y-bont Fawr, for WISE at the

Centre for Alternative Technology The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) ( cy, Canolfan y Dechnoleg Amgen) is an eco-centre in Powys, mid-Wales, dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no longer concentrates its efforts exclu ...

, Machynlleth * 2000 –

Foster + Partners Foster + Partners is a British architectural, engineering, and integrated design practice founded in 1967 as Foster Associates by Norman Foster. It is the largest architectural firm in the UK with over 1,500 employees in 13 studios worldwide. ...

, London, for the Great Glasshouse,

National Botanic Garden of Wales The National Botanic Garden of Wales ( cy, Gardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru) is a botanical garden located in Llanarthney in the River Tywi valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The garden is both a visitor attraction and a centre for botanical rese ...

, Llanarthne * 1999 – Smith Roberts Associates, Bristol, for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Visitor Centre, St Davids * 1998 – Arup, London, for the Control Techniques Research and Development HQ, Newtown * 1997 – PCKO Architects, Middlesex, for The Swansea Foyer, Swansea * 1996 – Holder Mathias Alcock, Cardiff, for the NCM Building (now Atradius), Cardiff Bay * 1995 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1994 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1993 – Niall Phillips Architects, Bristol, for Lower Treginnis Farm, St Davids * 1992 – ''No medal awarded * 1991 – Allen Jenkins and Phil Read, South Glamorgan County Council, for the County Hall,

Butetown Butetown (or ''The Docks'', cy, Tre-biwt) is a district and community in the south of the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It was originally a model housing estate built in the early 19th century by the 2nd Marquess of Bute, for whose t ...

, Cardiff * 1990 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1989 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1988 – Welsh Health Common Services Authority, for the

Ystradgynlais Community Hospital Ystradgynlais Community Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Cymunedol Ystradgynlais) is a health facility in Glanrhyd Road, Ystradgynlais, Powys, Wales. It is managed by the Powys Teaching Health Board. History The facility was commissioned to replace the ag ...

, Ystradgynlais, Powys * 1987 – Merfyn Roberts and Dewi-Prys Thomas, for Gwynedd Council, Caernarfon * 1986 – Welsh Health Common Services Authority Architects, for the Mold Community Hospital,

Mold, Flintshire Mold ( cy, Yr Wyddgrug) is a town and community in Flintshire, Wales, on the River Alyn. It is the county town and administrative seat of Flintshire County Council, as it was of Clwyd from 1974 to 1996. According to the 2011 UK Census, it had ...

* 1985 – Bowen Dann Davies Partnership, Colwyn Bay, for National Outdoor Centre for Wales,

Plas Menai Plas Menai is the National Outdoor Centre for Wales. It is situated on the mainland side of the Menai Strait, and is approximately 3 miles East of Caernarfon, North Wales. History Opened in 1978 the facility was initially called "Plas y Deri" (P ...

* 1984 – Bowen Dann Davies Partnership, Colwyn Bay, for Capel y Groes, Wrexham * 1983 – Percy Thomas Partnership, Cardiff, for

Amersham International Amersham plc was a manufacturer of radiopharmaceutical products, to be used in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures. The company became GE Healthcare following a takeover in 2003, which was based at the original site in Amersh ...

Laboratories, Cardiff * 1982 – Bowen Dann Davies Partnership, Colwyn Bay, for Hafan Elen, Llanrug, Caernarfon * 1981 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1980 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1979 – Percy Thomas Partnership, Cardiff, for the Hugh Owen Building,

Aberystwyth University , mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all , established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'') , former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth , type = Public , endowment = ...

, Aberystwyth * 1978 – Percy Thomas Partnership, Cardiff, for St Fagans National Museum of History,

St Fagans St Fagans ( ; cy, Sain Ffagan) is a village and community in the west of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is home to the St Fagans National History Museum. History The name of the area invokes Saint Fagan, according to William of Malm ...

, Cardiff * 1977 – Bowen Dann Partnership for the Hostel, Cefndy Road, Rhyl * 1976 – Percy Thomas Partnership, Cardiff, for the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Building, Pontypool * 1975 – John Sam Williams, Pwllheli, for the Special School in Y Ffôr, Pwllheli * 1974 – Percy Thomas Partnership, Cardiff, for Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court Care Home, Porthcawl * 1973 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1972 – T G Jones and J R Evans, for Little Orchard, Dinas Powys * 1971 – Percy Thomas Partnership, Cardiff, for the Great Hall and Students Union,

, Aberystwyth * 1970 – Sir Percy Thomas and Son, Cardiff, for the Physics and Mathematics Building, Swansea University, Swansea * 1969 – Ormrod Partnership, Liverpool, for the Pilkington Perkin-Elmer Building, St Asaph * 1968 – Hird & Brooks, Cardiff, for The Gore (house and swimming pool), Llantrisant Road, Llandaff, Cardiff * 1967 – ''No medal awarded'' * 1966-61 – ''Medal not offered'' * 1960 – G Grenfell Baines & Hargreaves, Preston, for the H. J. Heinz Offices, Cardiff * 1959-54 – ''No medal awarded''

Craft and design