The Musgrave Medal is an annual award by the Institute of Jamaica in recognition of achievement in art, science, and literature.Webster, Valerie J. (2000), Awards, Honors & Prizes, Volume 2, Gale Group, , p. 447. Originally conceived in 1889 and named in memory of Sir Anthony Musgrave, the founder of the Institute and the former Governor of Jamaica who had died the previous year, the medal was the first to be awarded in the Western Hemisphere.
The medals were initially awarded as prizes in a cultural competition. In 1941, the Gold Medal was initiated and awarded in recognition of a "distinguished eminence". The first recipient of the gold medal was artist Edna Manley in recognition of her work promoting art and literature. A Silver Medal, recognizing "outstanding merit", and Bronze Medal, for merit, are also awarded."Musgrave Medals Presentation", Institute of Jamaica, 30 December 2015.
The medal was designed by British sculptor Alfred Toft. The first medal was awarded in 1897, as part of Jamaica's celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Until 1906 the medals were only given as prizes in art and craft competitions organised by the Institute.
In 2011, eight Musgrave Medals were awarded, with a gold medal for Hedley Jones, designer and builder of Jamaica's first solid body electric guitar in 1940, and builder of audio equipment including some of Jamaica's early sound systems and much of the equipment in Studio One."Honouring Headley - Veteran musician receives Musgrave Gold medal", Jamaica Observer, 14 October 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
Gold Medal winners 1941: Edna Manley, art and literature (first award) 1942: No gold medal awarded 1943: Ena Ada Josephine, art and literature 1944–50: No gold medals awarded 1951: George Goode, music 1952–53: No gold medals awarded 1954: W. Adolphe Roberts, history literature 1955–57: No gold medals awarded 1958: J. E. Clare McFarlane, poetry 1959–64: No gold medals awarded 1965: Theodore E. Sealy, cultural development 1966: Phillip Sherlock, history and literature 1967: No gold medal awarded 1968: Roger Mais, literature, posthumously 1969: Ansel Hart, history 1970: Alvin Marriott, sculpture 1971: Amy Jacques Garvey, history 1972: M. G. Smith, anthropology 1973: No gold medal awarded 1974: Nicolás Guillén, literature; Albert Huie, art 1975: Little Theatre Movement, theatre 1976: Victor Stafford Reid, literature 1977: Alicia Alonso, artistic excellence; Ronald Moody, sculpture 1978: Louise Bennett, poetry and theatre 1979: No gold medal awarded 1980: George Proctor, botany 1981: Rex Nettleford, dance and West Indian cultural development 1982: Clinton Black, history (archival development) 1983: Frederic G. Cassidy, philology and etymology 1984: Cecil A. Baugh, ceramics 1985: Mallica 'Kapo' Reynolds, painting and sculpture 1986: Derek Walcott, literature; Kenneth E.N. Ingram, librarianship and history scholarship 1987: Olive Lewin, music; Carl Abrahams, art; Francis Nicholas, dance 1988: Alfred Sangster, science and technical education; Trevor Rhone, drama; Clive Thompson, dance 1989–92: Osmond Watson, art; Barry Higman, history; Gerald Lalor, science: Robert Hill, history 1993: No gold medal awarded 1994: Peter Abrahams, fiction and journalism; Manley West, pharmacology 1995: David Boxer, art through institution building and scholarship; Graham Roger Serjeant, medical science; John Golding, medical science 1996: Sir Roy Augier, Caribbean education history; Stuart Hall, sociological studies 1997: No gold medal awarded 1998: Jamaica Library Service, literature; University of the West Indies 1999: Erna Brodber, literature; Errol Morrison, medical science; Lorna Goodison, poetry 2000: Monty Alexander, music; Basil Barrington Watson, art; University Singers, music 2001: Hon. Lawson Douglas, urology 2002: David Pottinger, art; Clement Seymore 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, music 2003: Chris Blackwell, development of Jamaican music; Franklyn Prendergast, medicine 2004: Olive Senior, documenting Jamaican heritage; Mico College, recognizing the importance of Jamaican culture 2005: Richard Hart, history 2006: Kamau Brathwaite, literature 2007: Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, development of Jamaican music; Bertram Fraser-Reid, chemistry 2008: Carey Robinson, community development & heritage; Mercedes Richards, astronomy 2009: Wycliffe Bennett, arts development; Maureen Warner-Lewis, literature 2010: Terrence Forrester, science 2011: Hedley Jones, music and audio engineering 2012: Horace Fletcher, medical science; Edward Baugh, literature 2013: Lee "Scratch" Perry, music; Franklin W. Knight, social history 2014: Anthony C. Winkler, literature; Petrona Morrison, education; Celia Christie-Samuels, medical research 2015: Sly and Robbie, music; Orlando Patterson, literature"Sly and Robbie strike gold", Jamaica Observer, 22 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015. 2016: No medals awarded 2017: Herbert Ho Ping Kong, scienceMcGibbon, Andrea (2017) "2017 Musgrave Medals to Outstanding Jamaicans", Jamaicans.com, 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019. 2018: Peter Ashbourne, music; Basil Burke, science; Mervyn Morris, literatureSmall, Kimberley (2018) "Musgrave Medal Awards Pioneers", Jamaica Gleaner, 14 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2019. 2019: Michael Bucknor, academia; Winston Ewart, musicJohnson, Richard (2019), "Musgrave Medals for 10", Jamaica Observer, 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019. 2021: Ishion Hutchinson, literature, Mona Webber, science, Steven Woodham, music; 2022: Lenford Salmon, theater and culture; Joy Spence, chemist and master blender; Diana McCaulay, author and environmental activist 2023: Vivian Crawford, arts and culture; Professor Marcia Roye, science and education; Professor Carolyn Cooper, expert in international and Jamaican popular culture
References