THE ALEXANDER THOMSON TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP

The 2007 Award - 'Unsung Heroes'

Alexander "Greek" Thomson was one of the two great architects of international stature produced by Victorian Glasgow. Thomson had been a founding member and sometime president of the GIA. On his death in 1875 his contemporaries established a Travelling Scholarship to be awarded every 3 years and the second winner in 1890 was none other than CR Mackintosh who subsequently travelled to Italy before presenting his final paper and sketches, which are still preserved.

Following in the tradition of the Alexander Thomson Travelling Scholarship established in 1883, the GIA wish to invite submissions for the 2007 Scholarship of £1200.00 (payable in two parts) to assist in the research and production of a previously unpublished dissertation documenting the career and output of a lesser known (UK) architect who is no longer living. The subject should have made a significant contribution to architecture by producing a consistent body of good quality architecture during his / her lifetime such that would be worthy of permanent historical record. They may have been associated with a particular region anywhere in the UK or identified as having been involved in a specific sector e.g. social housing, cinema or church architecture etc.

The scholarship is open to any architecture student or recently qualified person up to the age of 30 who has graduated from any of the recognised UK schools of architecture. The submission is to take the form of a brief personal CV plus a max 2000 word resume of their chosen subject. The latest date for submission is 12th October 2007 with the selection being announced within 4 weeks thereafter. The winner will then have a period of up to 12 months to complete their study with a view to final presentation to the GIA Council before November 2008 whereon the balance of the award will be made.

The conditions of the scholarship are noted below:

1. The scholarship and final production are to bear the name: The Alexander Thomson Travelling Scholarship
2. The original intention was a focus on classic architecture in the tradition of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson but the scope is widened to any period limited only by the premise that the subject is to be a person no longer living
3. The award is made normally every 3 years
4. The scholarship is open to any architecture student or recently qualified person up to the age of 30 from any of the recognised UK schools of architecture
5. The award will be made in two parts - £600.00 on the award being announced and the remaining £600.00 on the receipt of a competant completion of the commission subject to the scrutiny of the GIA Council representatives whose decision is final
6. The initial submission will be judged on the basis of a brief personal CV and a max 1000-2000 word resume of the intended subject. The final presentation is expected to be a dissertation illustrated with drawings and sketches of max 6000-8000 words
7. The intention is that the subject matter would be previously unpublished and while it is recognised that some source material may be available any plagiarism will not be tolerated and would disqualify the award being made
8. The GIA reserve the right to display the final presentation and copy it for educational and publication reasons but the original copyright will remain with the author
9. The GIA reserves the right to make no award
   
   

For further details please contact:
C McNeish
GIA Education Convenor
c/o SMC Davis Duncan Architects
26a St. Vincent Crescent
Glasgow
G3 8LH

Tel: 0141 248 1700
Email: education@gia.org.uk