This award was established in 2013 by USITT Fellow Bernhard R. Works, Ph.D, professor emeritus of design and technical production at the University of Illinois and 2011 recipient of USITT's Joel E. Rubin Founders Award and sponsor of the Frederick A. Buerki Golden Hammer Scenic Technology Award.

Winner of this award receives $1,000 & Conference registration for USITT Conference & Stage Expo. Awards are presented at USITT Conference & Stage Expo.

This award recognizes a student as a practicing theatre artisan. This award is to enhance further student training and/or development in one of four craft areas: scene painting, stage properties, costume making, and lighting technology. The award will be given on an annual rotating basis. The 2026 award will be for Scenic Painting.

Candidates for the Bernhard R. Works Master Crafts Award in Scenic Painting must display a strong design aesthetic, engaged research, a spirit of collaboration, clear design and technical communication skills, and technical execution competency.  Depth and breadth of abilities will be considered along with specialization in particular areas of properties artisanship.

Eligibility 

• Nominees must be a graduating undergraduate student.
• Two nomination options:
  • USITT members (faculty or other non-student professional) may submit a nomination
  • Students may self-nominate
•  Nominees must have a current student, early career, or individual membership by November 2, 2023.
• Awards are open to all ages and recognize promising newcomers in each award area.

Submission Process

• Nominees must complete on-line form including a non-refundable $25 entry fee by November 2, 2023.
• Once registration is completed, each nominee will receive an e-mail containing a link to submit the required documents.
• Submission Materials:
  • Resume
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty member
  • Letter of support
  • Personal Statement
  • Statement of Collaboration
  • 5 digital image plates

Primary Consideration Materials

These materials are REQUIRED and are meant to showcase a strong artistic voice through understanding of text/music, collaboration within the design team, research, design development, and execution of the design.

LETTER & RESUME GUIDELINES:

• Nominees’ current resume. PDF format only. Citations of websites are not permitted.
• Letter of Recommendation from a faculty member. The faculty member may an instructor, shop
  supervisor, theatre professor, department chairs or other faculty mentors able to speak on
  behalf of nominee’s ability and competency as a designer.
• Letter of Support may come from fellow collaborators, directors, choreographers, production
  team members, faculty members, or others working professionals.

PLATE GUIDELINES:

The primary consideration materials should be organized as follows:

• Five (5) plates of digital images are required. A Plate refers to a single image or a collage of images, much like one page in a portfolio.
• Maximum size and resolution is 18 x 24 inches, 300dpi, 20MB. 
• PDF format only.
• Event/play/piece title and scene clearly labeled with an appropriately sized, easy‐to‐read, well‐ placed font.
• Recommended that the applicant submit materials for at least one (1) realized scenic painting designs, more then one (1) is acceptable. Recommendation of up to three (3) realized shows across all submitted plates.
• Submissions including multiple productions should be clearly organized displaying one show per plate. Multiple plates can be used for each show provided the total number of plates submitted do not exceed a total of five (5) plates.
• Organize the plates so that the development of the design is shown in a clear, concise, and thoughtful manner. Quality is better than quantity.
• On each plate, there must be one (1) full‐stage production photograph including actors in costume under stage lighting. (minimum size of 5x7, 300 dpi)
• Supporting documentation should be legible (consider font size), labeled, and a reflection of the process.

WRITTEN COMPONENT:

• Each applicant must submit a personal statement articulating who you are as a collaborative artist. What is your working philosophy? What is your approach to incorporating scenic technology in to productions? (Max 300 words)
• For each production featured on the five (5) required plates, the applicant must submit a statement of collaboration articulating the collaborative process within the production team and shop, research and development, communication with the run crew and others in the team and the ability to work within the parameters of the production as whole. (Max 800 words per show, no photos, may include but is not limited to):
  • Explain the collaboration process with the scenic designer, other members of the design team, actors and/or director interaction, and run crew/application team.
  • An observation of the overriding themes or motifs in support of a design idea.
  • Explain how the scenic painting conceptualization of the project will utilize the elements presented by the scenic designer.
  • Explain the research and development process undertaken by the scenic painting and analysis/usage of other designer materials, especially lighting, to design and create the scenic painting for the production.

DEMONSTRATION OF PROCESS:

The plates should be organized to show the scenic panting process and implementation of the design choices as part of the production process. If designer‐created images are used, please indicate this clearly in the image label. These may include (but are not limited to):

• Composition (both in the actual work and presentation)
• Scene painting (analog or digital renderings, paint elevations, etc.)
• Research (photographs, drawings, sketches, etc.)
• Paint Samples
• Color Swatches
• Painting Techniques   
• Cartooning
• Color mixing
• Dimensional texture fabrication
• Stencil making and application
• Samples or photographs of sample/test process
• “Process” photographs of paint application
• Photographs of character(s) onstage and under stage lighting

SECONDARY SUPPORT MATERIALS

An additional three (3) plates of material may be submitted for a maximum of eight (8) plates total. These optional plates may include projects, from other areas of scenic technology, entertainment technology, and/or further demonstrate additional artistic ability. This work may include classroom projects or realized work.  

ADJUDICATION

Judges will score (not rank) each entry on the following: 

• Adherence to the submission guidelines: plate size, format, and parameters
  • Submissions not adhering to the format listed will be considered ineligible
• Content and organization of plates and photographs (image size & quantity, labeling, legibility, and clarity)
• Illustration and explanation of process: analysis to research, research to design, design to execution, and execution to production
• Demonstration of scenic painting rendering and/or communication skills
• Quality, execution, and appropriateness of design choices
• Written materials provide clarity, articulation, and thoughtful understanding of the design
• Quality, complexity, and appropriateness of scenic painting choices and technical execution

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