The Helen Keller International Award

In this section:

9th Helen Keller International Award launches

"Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content."

Dr. Helen Keller, 1880 - 1968

We all experience the world in different ways. Have you ever thought about how you might experience your environment if you were deafblind or had a sensory impairment? How might your sensory awareness be altered and would this create a barrier or open up a new world? The Helen Keller International Award challenges artists to create an original work which provokes thought, challenges perceptions, inspires discussion and encourages an exploration and celebration of the senses.

The competition is open to any artist and will invite entries that focus on exploring the senses and challenging perceptions of deafblindness. Works should consider the senses ... touch, smell, sight, sound and taste.

Artworks in any medium are considered for selection and independent judges will choose which entries will be exhibited and have the chance of winning a cash prize. All artists will remain anonymous until the judging is complete.

Further information and a full application pack will be available from mid August on our award homepage www.sensescotland.org.uk/helenkeller

Or contact the arts team on:

Arts and Wellbeing

Sense Scotland
43 Middlesex Street
Kinning Park
Glasgow G41 1EE

Tel:    +44 (0)141 429 0294
Fax:    +44 (0)141 429 0295
Text:   +44 (0)141 418 7170

Previous Helen Keller Award Winners

8th Helen Keller Award

The winning piece was 'Sight Unseen' - comprises 20 textured paintings on paper. The winner was Rich Curtis, from Alabama, USA.

Winner of the under sixteen category - 'Medusa' - a large sculptural piece made from recycled material/found objects - Shawlands Academy and Hazelwood School (Scotland)

7th Helen Keller Award

The winning piece was 'Love Colour' - Light, Wood and Perspex, an illuminated heart of bright colour and flashing lights. The winner was Yvonne Larkin, an artist from East Kilbride who is supported by Sense Scotland.

Winner of the under sixteen category - 'Deaf Blind People' - Poster Paint - Hannah Duncan (Scotland)

6th Helen Keller Award

The winner was Welsh artist Matthew Humphreys, whose film 'The Lost Reels' was a moving piece about his father who was deaf and then became blind. This award received over 220 entries from 9 countries and exhibited in the Collins Gallery.

5th Helen Keller Award

The winning entry came from Gill Horn for her piece titled 'I don't know' which comprised of a series of heads with veils, glasses and headphones offering a very direct look at deafblindness, with some subtle touches such as hand written Braille round the veils. Over 180 artists entered and exhibited in the Kelvingrove Gallery.

4th Helen Keller Award

The winning entry came from Joseph Fenton for an acrylic painting. Peter Howson donated a pastel drawing, the auction of which raised £1,300 for Sense's Arts Development Programme. Around 90 entries were received and the exhibition was held in Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

3rd Helen Keller Award

The winning entry came from the Sense West Sculpture Group who produced a collaborative work made by six deafblind artists based in Birmingham. Around 80 entries were received and the exhibition was held in the Mackintosh Room at the Glasgow School of Art. The award was presented by Princess Anne.

2nd Helen Keller Award

Lewis Scott, an artist who is supported by Sense Scotland, won with a painting which was bought by Glasgow City Council and is displayed in Scotland Street Museum.

1st Helen Keller Award

This was the first Sense Scotland, Helen Keller Award. Paul Somerville, then aged 9, won the first award with a painting titled 'Me'. Around 60 works were received.

Links to sites of interest

Helen Keller

The 9th Helen Keller International Award is presented by Sense Scotland