Using bronze salvaged from the bells of the 1990 Francis Morgan Swain Student Building fire, the IU Office of the Bicentennial announced a competition for artists to design bicentennial medals.
Submissions opened on Jan. 20 for the design of the IU Bicentennial Medal. The contest closes April 18.
Nominations for recipients of the Bicentennial Medal will open in summer 2018 and close on January 20, 2019. They will be awarded during IU's bicentennial anniversary activities through 2020.
The contest is open to designs from IU faculty, staff, students, alumni and the public. All designs will be reviewed by a committee led by MaryEllen Bishop, chair of the IU Board of Trustees. President Michael McRobbie will review finalists this summer.
The winning artist will receive $5,000 and have their design cast into the medal on one side with the official University Seal featured on the reverse.
“Designs should capture the spirit of IU and honor its 200-year history,” according to the Office of the Bicentennial's press release.
The Bicentennial Medal is meant to honor service in support of IU’s mission as a public university, according to the press release. It will be awarded to individuals and organizations who have broadened the reach of IU around the world, .
“The new IU Bicentennial Medal is one of the signature ways we will honor the University’s proud history, heritage and character,” McRobbie said in the press release.
“Individuals honored with this award will receive a piece of IU history,” said Kelly Kish, director of the IU Office of the Bicentennial, in the release.
Clark Gudas
