2019 ALD Awards for Excellence

ALD Launches 2019 Awards Scheme

The ALD has launched its annual award scheme, previously the Michael Northern awards, aimed at all students and recent graduates studying in the UK, it also unveils its streamlined rebranding with a new name, The ALD Awards for Excellence.

The ALD Awards for Excellence better reflects the association’s growing representation and introduces a new award category with restructured prizes that meet current needs of students with an interest in the production of lighting and video.

The awards remain a celebration of imaginative and creative lighting and video production and represent a chance for young designers to showcase their talent, bringing their work to the attention of experienced lighting and video designers, as well to the wider reach of industry professionals. Awards are presented to those who demonstrate strong, imaginative and creative lighting, video designs or skill in production electrics.

Rory Beaton, head of the ALD’s Working Group for Awards expressed that the rebranding was necessary to reflect the growing diversity of the association and the integration of new awards. He said, “The awards have grown in stature and like most things need a firm foundation from which to grow further. With the consolidation of naming and prize structure The ALD Awards for Excellence have a strong and flexible framework to shape them for the future.

Johanna Town, Chair of the ALD, adds, “As the ALD is growing so its diversity better represents all who work to highlight, light and shade a performer’s stage. It’s very important for us to encourage abilities in communication of all mediums. To be able to sell your ideas and passions for a design or methodology to other industry leaders is an important skill. For this reason, The ALD’s Awards for Excellence are so important to a designer’s future.”

The Awards are now open for submissions from students studying in the UK, recent graduates from 2017 onwards or corresponding affiliate members of the ALD, in the following categories:
 
The Michael Northen Award for Excellence in Lighting Design
(sponsored by the Mousetrap Foundation)
Prize:

  • £500 cash prize,
  • a 512 ETCnomad™ Package,
  • a six-month mentoring scheme with a team of industry professionals to run alongside the initial stage of their career.
  • A copy of Michael Northen’s book, “Northen Lights”.

 
The Fred Foster Award for Excellence in Production Electrics
(sponsored by ETC)
Prize:

  • £500 cash prize,
  • a 512 ETCnomad™ package,
  • a one-year subscription to the ALD’s PLI insurance
  • a six-month mentoring scheme with a team of industry professionals to run alongside the initial stage of their career.

 
The Blue-I Media Award for Excellence in Video Design
(sponsored by Blue-I Media)
Prize:

  • £500 cash prize,
  • £1,250 hire credit towards their first commercial venture,
  • a six-month mentoring scheme with a team of industry professionals to run alongside the initial stage of their career.

 
An esteemed panel of judges will deliberate over submissions to decide the deserving winners. Awards will be presented at the annual “Lighting Lunch” held in London in December 2019.

The full criteria, including checklists, for submission to each award can be found on the ALD website: https://www.ald.org.uk/awards/ald-awards-for-excellence
The awards are open NOW and all submissions MUST be received before the closing date of midnight on Thursday, 31st October 2019.