The Michael Northen Bursary was set up by lighting designer Michael Northen shortly before he passed away in 2001. It takes the form of a £500 prize awarded to a student who shows exemplary talent in lighting design. The award is to be judged on a project that the student has produced within the past academic year (July 2008 - July 2009). This award was originally made in conjunction with the White Light Bursary and since 2004 the ALD has administered the scheme and organises the presentation of awards as a fitting tribute to Michael who was a founding member of the ALD and a previous President. The fund itself is held by The Mousetrap Foundation, an organisation committed to encouraging young theatre practitioners. The ALD therefore awards the bursary each year in conjunction with The Mousetrap Foundation.
The Michael Northen Bursary Award winner will receive £500, and this year two other winners will receive prizes of £250 sponsored by ETC and ALD. All three winning submissions will be displayed on the ALD stand at the PLASA09 in September, where the prizes will be presented. The judging will take place by a panel of industry professionals. The 2007 panel included Rick Fisher, Howard Harrison, Mark Jonathan and Paul Pyant.
Applicants are asked to complete a submission form (downloadable from link below) as part of their application which will demonstrate the development and processes of a successfully realised lighting design performance project. Additional material to support the application such as photographs, storyboards or plans are set out in the guidance notes of the submission form.
It should be emphasised that this is a design bursary and the ALD are not looking for wonderful project management or equipment lists. The submissions will be judged on an imaginative design and creativity in lighting. Students should therefore consider carefully how to communicate their concept for the lighting design and how their ideas were realised in performance.
• Submissions must be received at the ALD office (address below) by Friday 31st July 2009.
• Judging will take place in August 2009. Submissions should not be larger than an A4 envelope.
• Entrants may submit work in an electronic format on CD, but must ensure that files are printable and in a common format (i.e. Word, Excel, Jpeg's, Bitmaps).
If electronic entries cannot be viewed by the judging panel then the entry cannot be considered.
(Lee Baldock)
