The SAY award reveals bespoke shortlist prizes before 2024's ceremony

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With only one week to go until The SAY Award Ceremony, the country’s national music prize has revealed this year's prizes. Handcrafted by renowned Dunblane glass artist Elin Isaksson, the prizes feature stunning recycled glass with colours drawn from Scotland’s natural landscape.

Welcoming Scotland’s music industry to Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday 24 October, the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) will crown the winner of the £20,000 prize whilst celebrating all 10 albums on this year’s SAY Award Shortlist, with the Ceremony hosted by broadcasters Nicola Meighan and Vic Galloway. This year's Shortlist includes Glasgow artists Arab Strao, corto.alto, Lucia and the Best Boys and more.

Guests on the night will enjoy live performances from three-time former SAY Award nominee Bemz, DJ Rebecca Vasmant and 2023’s Sound of Young Scotland winners No Windows, plus a tribute to the winner of this year’s Modern Scottish Classic Award, ‘Grit’ by Martyn Bennett.

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Since its inception, The SAY Award Design Commission has funded makers to create bespoke prizes for the musicians recognised at The SAY Award Ceremony. Previous prizes have included jesmonite arches, natural slate veneer lamps, and statuesque low-carbon concrete totems, from Stirlingshire makers Brutal Concrete Workshop.

The Modern Scottish Classic AwardThe Modern Scottish Classic Award
The Modern Scottish Classic Award

The SAY Award and Stirling Council invited local makers to respond to the brief and asked to consider how they would embed sustainability into the award production with Dunblane-based contemporary glass maker Elin Isaksson appointed as this year’s maker.

Originally from Sweden, Elin moved to Scotland in 2001, where her passion for glass blowing led her to graduating from Edinburgh College of Art. Her unique sand-casted sculptures and contemporary hand-blown accessories have received national and international acclaim, and her glass can be found in many galleries. When not undertaking commissions, she teaches the ancient craft of glass blowing at her Dunblane studio.

Elin has created unique sand-casted glass sculptures for each of the nine Shortlist artists, as well as prizes for the recipients of Modern Scottish Classic Award and Sound of Young Scotland Award winners, plus one very special larger glass sculpture enhanced with real 23.5 carat gold for The SAY Award’s ultimate winner. All of the awards were cast from naturally occuring rocks found by Elin close to her Dunblane studio, and each reflects the light differently thanks to the hand pouring of the molten glass and its interaction with coloured shards recycled from previous projects.

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Elin’s work is influenced by the minimalist designs taught in her early training at the Orrefors Glass School, and the colours of the Scottish landscape which feature prominently in her pieces. She describes her work as Scandinavian design, made in Scotland. One of only a handful of glassblowers left in Scotland, Elin’s work will be celebrated at an exhibition at Tolbooth Stirling in February 2025, as winner of The SAY Award Design Commission.

The SAY Award Design Commission prizesThe SAY Award Design Commission prizes
The SAY Award Design Commission prizes

Elin Isaksson said, “The Design Commission challenged me to scrutinise my use of all of the resources involved in my glass making. It enabled me to experiment, to seek creative new ways to reduce waste, and has strengthened the sustainability of my practice. I’m delighted with the results. These awards are sand-cast from natural rocks I’ve found near my Dunblane studio. The colours come from adding the gem-like fragments of coloured glass from previous commissions to hand poured clear molten glass, making each award unique. The Winner’s award also includes 23.5 carat gold. I look forward to sharing prototypes of the awards and my wider work at my exhibition at the Tollbooth, Stirling in February next year.”

Elin Isaksson is the third Stirlingshire based maker appointed by the Design Commission to create bespoke awards for The SAY Award.

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Brisley said, “The unique awards designed by Elin look amazing and are more than fitting to celebrate the best of Scottish music over the last year. The SAY Award Design Commission has been a brilliant initiative to help Stirling’s creative community to put their work into the national spotlight as we have seen over the last three years.

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“With only one week to go until The SAY Award Ceremony takes place at Stirling’s Albert Halls, we cannot wait to once again welcome music lovers, artists and industry representatives alike to our city as we celebrate our 900th anniversary.”

Artist Elin Isaksson with 2024's SAY Award prizesArtist Elin Isaksson with 2024's SAY Award prizes
Artist Elin Isaksson with 2024's SAY Award prizes

Judges will meet in Stirling to choose the winner from this year’s Shortlist, with individuals from across the cultural sphere including actress Karen Dunbar, author Doug Johnstone, Director of the V&A Dundee Leonie Bell plus music journalists, industry figureheads and more.

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