2015 John Byrne Award winner announced
The 2015 winner of the John Byrne Award, which aims to encourage artistic expression among teenagers in Edinburgh, has been announced at a ceremony this evening.
Ruairidh Macleod won this year’s award for his musical improvisation, De Profundis. Macleod was presented with the John Byrne Award, along with a £1000 prize, by the artist and playwright at the capital’s Playfair Library.
The John Byrne Award, now in its sixth year and open to 16-to-19-year-olds in Edinburgh, challenges entrants to “re-create their values as art” and explore personal and societal values in response to a brief set by organisers.
This year’s stimulus for entrants was trade union leader Jimmy Reid's inauguration speech after his election as rector of Glasgow University in 1972.
Hamish Mathieson, the chairman of the JBA judging panel, said: "Ruairidh's entry was at once dramatic and sensitive, combining an impressive musical talent with just the sort of in depth exploration of values that the John Byrne Award strives to encourage in young people.”
Three other entrants – Bella Baillie, Susie Bradly and Steven Dale – were commended by the judging panel; each receives £500 for their personal development.
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