- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
The Musgrave Medal, a memorial to Sir Anthony Musgrave, founder of the institute of Jamaica (IOJ).
Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
THE MUSGRAVE Medal - presented to 11 outstanding Jamaicans and one cultural group last Wednesday - is a replica of the original designed by the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) over a century ago.
The medals are awarded annually to selected persons for achievement in the fields of literature, arts, and science.
Investigation reveals that a gold Musgrave medal costs over 500 pounds sterling to produce; a silver medal, 160 pounds sterling; and a bronze, 73 pounds sterling.
Conceptualised in 1889, the medals are intended as a memorial to Sir Anthony Musgrave, a former governor of Jamaica, who founded the IOJ in 1879. In 1889, a year after his death, the Institute commissioned a medal bearing his name to be awarded annually.
The portrait done by Sir John Collier was completed in 1890, and hangs today in the Institute's board room. The medal, designed by well-known British sculptor, Alfred Toft, was not completed until 1893 when the first samples were sent to Jamaica.
The design is simple on the obverse (principal side), the portrait of Sir Anthony and, on the reverse, branches of palm, laurel and olive, symbolising excellence, success, and the art of peace. The corn stalk represents tropical agriculture.
John Aarons, Government archivist and former executive director of the National Library of Jamaica, in an article in the Jamaica Journal (May/July 1989), explained how confusion arose about the date of the first awards.
According to him: "The arrangements for making the medals were handled by Daniel Morris, a former chairman of the Institute, who had served in Jamaica as director of public gardens and plantations. As a mark of appreciation, the Institute presented him with a specimen copy of the Musgrave Medal. And this erroneously led one author to state that the first Musgrave Medal was awarded in 1893, a mistake which was later perpetuated."
From the records, the first medals were awarded in 1897 as prizes (bronze medals) for outstanding merits in arts and crafts competitions organised by the Institute. These prizes were made up to 1906, when regulations were changed enabling the board to issue medals with "greater freedom."
Today, the Musgrave Medals continue to be awarded in gold, silver and bronze categories, and a spokesman for the IOJ explained that the awards are made for achievements over a "sustained period."
"Each recipient is evaluated not only on personal or organisational quality, but on their quality as a 'change agent', one who has made an impact on the quality of life of the nation, whose achievements can serve as a an inspiration to the wide society," Carmen Wade-Barrett, public relations officer, told The Sunday Gleaner.
Apart from the traditional fields of science, literature and art, the medals have been awarded in journalism, library development, radio broadcasting, television documentaries, floral arrangement, film, photography, oral history, and a host of other endeavours.
CRITERIA FOR AWARDS
The Gold Musgrave Medal awarded for "distinguished eminence" represents the pinnacle of achievement. It is presented to persons who have "demonstrated the highest of all that is admirable in bringing...that quality which commands respect and admiration in any sphere at home or abroad".
"A Silver Musgrave is not really a 'second place' medal," Mrs. Wade-Barrett explained. It is awarded for outstanding merit, and recognises persons/organisations which have made a contribution not quite in the global scale of a gold, although worthy of effort.
Bronze medals acknowledge "merit" in endeavours, especially the contribution of community activists, artists and others who may be relatively young in years of contribution.
To date, approximately 400 medals have been awarded by the Institute.
Gaverly McGowan, IOJ"s programmes manager, told The Sunday Gleaner that an individual during his/her lifetime can receive more than one medal, as each medal can be ranked as stage of development in a recipient's development.
"Persons can be awarded more that one medal in different categories reflecting the continued development of talent and schools. Sustainable development, that's what these medals are all about," Ms. McGowan said.
Special Gold Musgrave Medals have been awarded to non-Jamaicans, including Cuban poet Nicholas Guillen, St. Lucian Nobel Laureate, Derek Walcott, and Trinidad and Tobago-based Carnival 'Mas presenter/designer, Peter Minshall.
MUSGRAVE YOUTH AWARD
In 2001, a special Musgrave Youth award was conceptualised by the Institute.
Mrs. Wade-Barrett told The Sunday Gleaner that "more than anything else, this medal demonstrates the Institute's commitment to recognise prevailing circumstances within the Jamaican society."
As she explained "The Institute wanted to recognise a young person who is gifted and making substantial contributions to the society, in a similar manner that older and established persons have been recognised. Additionally, the Musgrave Youth is expected to motivate young persons who have the potential to do well."
Unlike the main "Musgraves", the youth medal is a "home-grown" one, designed by master goldsmith/product designer, Garth Sanguinetti, who is head of the Department of Jewellery at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA)
His vision was to create a "new product, but one with connections to the old", and, as such, he incorporated the IOJ's crest (in continuance of the Musgrave tradition), and, on the reverse, a garland signifying victory and achievement. The coin is cased in silver, hall-marked on the upper end, and hangs from a maroon silk ribbon bordered with gold.
It was produced using a computer-aided design programme (CAD), connected to a computer with lasers to cut the polyppurpurene perspex material.
According to Mr. Sanguinetti "I wanted the medal to capture a feeling of crystal-like gem with the softness of frosted contrasts, while the highly polished reflective surface of sterling silver portray the vibrancy of modern times."
BUDGETING FOR MEDALS
The traditional Musgrave Medals continue to be manufactured in England by Skinner and Company, jewellers and silversmiths.
The company, jewellers to the Queen, also manufactures the National Honours and awards given by the Jamaican Government, and other prestigious British awards.
Ms. McGowan told The Sunday Gleaner that orders for medals are placed each year based on the maximum dictated in the regulations. So no more than three gold medals can be awarded annually, up to six silvers, and about the same number of bronzes.
She pointed out, however, that one or two medals from the quota are kept in reserve, and these are available should the Council see it fit to confer a "Special Gold" on any distinguished non-Jamaican during the course of the year.
Orders are placed with the England-based jewellers in January, and the medals are delivered by September. Then information is etched on the sides of the medals by Cecil Simpson Jewellers, local jewellers.
Given the overseas input, the cost of a Musgrave Medals has increased substantially over the years, and, if the stipulated quota is applied (that is, three golds, six silver, and six bronze), the total outlay on medals could run well over 2,000 pounds sterling. So, now that the 2002 ceremony has passed, the Institute has already begun budgetary preparations for next year's ceremony and other operations.
Nominations and selection of awardees are received and made by the Council of the Institute and, in times past, these selections were heavily influenced by members' perspectives.
In recent times, however, the awards have moved closer to a "popular level" recognising the wide varieties of modern cultural expression and output.
Among the myriad of recipients over the years have been Roger Mais, Claude McKay, Louise Bennett-Coverly, the Little Theatre Movement (which produces the annual pantomime), The National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), Edna Manley, Vic Reid, Albert Huie, Dr. David Boxer, Ivy Baxter, Alvin Marriott, Phillip Sherlock, Christopher Gonzalez, Alexander Cooper, Monty Alexander, The University Singers, Barrington Watson, Lennie Little-White, Vilma McClenan, Earl McKenzie, Petrona Morrison, Hope Thomas-Wheeler, Dale Webber, Lancelot Bryan, John Williamson, Sydney Morris, Lloyd Parkes, Cherrell Shelley-Robinson, Muriel Whynn, The Hatfield Cultural Group, Fay Ennever-Robotham, Astley "Grub" Cooper, Professor Lawson Douglas, Dr. Peter Vogel, and Wayne McLaughlin, among others.
The 2002 recipients are gold medallists Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd and David Pottinger, silver medallists Brian Heap, Barrington Moncrieffe, Herbert Repole, Dr. Arnoldo Ventura, Joan Tucker, and the Cari-Folk Singers, along with bronze medallists Leonard Daley, Marilyn Brice-MacDonald and David Reid.
While a number of institutions and special interest groups today present awards for achievements, the Musgrave Medals continue to be important in Jamaica's cultural life for the concept it embodies recognising and encouraging excellence in endeavours an aspect which continues to be important in nation-building.
