Information for Candidates

Eligibility

The Linbury Prize is open to final year students and graduates from 2010 or 2011 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.

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 2012.

If you have any doubt as to your eligibility to apply for this year’s Prize, please contact: LinburyPrize@nationaltheatre.org.uk  

Prizes and commissions

£2,000 for each of the 12 candidates selected for the Linbury Prize Exhibition, i.e. the finalists. 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 Prize.

There will be four winners. Each receive a cash prize of £2,000. The overall winner of the Linbury Prize for Stage Design 2011 will receive an additional £1,000 prize money.

The four winners will receive a commission to realise a production, most likely during 2012, from the company for which they are chosen to work. The design commission fee is set at £4,500. The Linbury Trust will also provide a grant to each company towards production costs.

Following the announcement of results, the winners of the Linbury Prize will be notified of the terms and conditions of their commission by the commissioning company.

The organisers of the Linbury 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 Prize for Stage Design have no jurisdiction over the commissioning company and the working relationship established between the parties.

The productions for which the grant is offered, and for which the four winners' design commissions are available, are expected to take place during the calendar year 2012. Should any unforeseen delay occur, application may be made to the Linbury  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.

The Selection Process

1. Initial Applications

DEADLINE: 12pm on Monday 11 July 2011 

Applications should initially be made by portfolio and sent to The Linbury Prize Administration, National Theatre, Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX to the following specifications:

• No smaller than A3 and no smaller than A2
• No more than 12 pages (24 sides)

The portfolio should contain evidence and still photographs of at least one complete project, e.g. 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.

The portfolio should not contain any work that is not your own and should not be accompanied by any 3D models or research photocopies. All work should be clearly labelled and numbered.

Candidates must also include a current CV, and are encouraged to 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

Work of unsuccessful candidates will not be posted back but will be available for collection from the Linbury Prize administration by arrangement. Work of successful candidates who proceed to the next stage will be held by the Linbury Prize Administration and may be used in the promotion of the Prize. It will be returned to the candidates at the First Selection Days

We strongly recommend applications are sent to the National Theatre by registered post

2. First Selection Days

Monday 18 – Tuesday 19 July 2011 

Those candidates who are invited to the First Selection Days must be available to come to the National Theatre on the above two dates 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.

3. Directors Day

Monday 25 July 2011

Those candidates who are invited to the Directors Day must be available to come to the National Theatre with their full portfolios on the above date. 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 will be reimbursed upon presentation of receipts.

4. Linbury Prize Exhibition

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

• One model, scale 1:25
• One ground plan, scale 1:25. Entrants will be required to design to the theatre specification of the appropriate company
• Elevations/working drawings of built scenic pieces, and one example of a technical prop drawing if appropriate. Scale 1:25
• Six or more original costume designs plus notes of the overall colour schemes (examples of fabrics may also be included)
• One or more original set designs showing the use of light together with indications in sketch form of the remaining acts in the production
• A storyboard in the form of drawings of sets including characters/performers and captions explaining the scene
• 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.

The Linbury Prize Exhibition

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 is restricted and displays, including models, must be completed to exhibition standard by 5pm.

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.

Finalists are reminded of the necessity to fix items neatly and securely. Any items inadequately or untidily fixed will be removed.

Models should not be fixed down until after judging has been completed.

Removal of exhibits from the National Theatre must be arranged by the exhibitors. Any items not removed will be disposed of. Finalists need not attend in person, but must arrange for their work to be removed on this date.

Judging

Finalists will be called as required for judging on 18, 19 and 25 July 2011.

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.

Finalists are responsible for fixing models down securely ready for exhibition once judging is completed.

Transport of design work

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

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.

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 nor the National Theatre 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.

General

The right is reserved to refuse entry to the Linbury Prize for Stage Design, and to refuse items proposed for exhibition.

The judges' decisions are final. Neither correspondence nor discussion concerning any decision may be entered into.

Following the exhibition, each of the twelve finalists will be required to produce a short report on their participation in the Prize, for submission to the Linbury 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.

The Linbury Prize for Stage Design is managed for the Linbury Trust by the National Theatre.

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.