We are delighted to announce the 2025 Amanda Moriarty Memorial Prize. This year, we are thrilled to collaborate with Laura Quinn Design Studio, based in Reading, Berkshire. Through this partnership, one of our members will have the incredible chance to undertake a five-day residency in Laura’s lampworking studio, gaining valuable hands-on experience in a dynamic creative environment.

In 2017, Amanda Moriarty, a long serving Board member and Honorary Treasurer of the Contemporary Glass Society, passed away.

To celebrate her enthusiasm and encouragement of glassmaking, CGS offer an annual prize in her memory.

Laura Quinn Design has generously donated a five-day residency in her lampworking studio, at her house in Reading.

The residency will consist of a combination of self-directed practice and development with one-to-one teaching and support.

The 5-day period will be available between August and October 2025. 

It is anticipated that the winner will use the facilities over two different weeks (Wednesday to Friday, and Friday & Saturday) rather than in one block of time in order to develop their practice. 

For those who require it, Laura is willing to include mentoring on lampworking studio set up and professional practice as part of the residency.

There will be an induction Zoom call prior to the residency commencing, which will enable the winner to meet Laura, see the studio, discuss their ideas and carry out advanced planning of what they want to achieve based on knowledge of the studio set-up.

The aim is to develop original ideas with the potential to produce a new piece of work or project.

For the winner, this residency can be both an opportunity to access facilities that they may not normally be able to, and to learn new skills which can push the development of their work.

Studio Equipment:

The home studio is a cosy, bright space based in Laura’s garden. It has the following equipment:

-              Nortel Mid-Range Torch with Minor Top & 10 Litre Oxygen Concentrator

-              Bethlehem Alpha Torch & 5 Litre Oxygen Concentrator

-              Smiths Little Torch 

-              A variety of lampworking tools

-              75 litre Nabertherm Top Loader (Ideal for annealing large work, fusing and open face casting)

-              Paragon SC2 Bead Annealing Kiln with Bead Door (Ideal for annealing smaller work)

-              Covington Tabletop Linisher with a variety of belts

-              10” Tabletop Flat Bed (Ideal for grinding and polishing bases and rims)

-              Wet tile saw with 0.8mm fine DK Holdings Diamond Blade, 34mm cut depth. 

About Laura Quinn Design

Laura Quinn is an Irish glass artist based in Reading. She has been making glass for over a decade, with 12 years of experience in traditional furnace glassblowing, and 11 years in lampworking.

The pieces she creates often combine blown and lampworked elements, pushing the boundaries of these techniques.

Her award-winning work has reached acclaim both nationally and internationally, being exhibited at Collect 2020, 2022 & 2025, Ireland Glass Biennale 2019 & 2023, British Glass Biennale 2022 & 2024 and Biot International Festival of Glass to name a few.

Her work has been acquired for Ulster Museum’s and the Office of Public Works permanent collections.

Laura is a passionate educator; she teaches privately in her studio and is also the Glass Technical Tutor at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham. For more information, visit https://www.lauraquinndesign.com/  or follow on social media at Instagram.com/lauraquinndesign

This is a fantastic opportunity for practising glass artists at all levels and at all stages of their career to step back, take time and explore their potential in a well-equipped studio alongside an established maker.

As part of the prize, CGS will also pay £300 towards accommodation/travel during the residency and the winner will be asked to submit a short report once the residency is completed.

We know that there will be a great deal of interest in this prize, so please ensure that you tell us all about yourself and what you hope to achieve in your application.

Eligibility

All CGS members can apply for this prize.  

if you are not a member you can join via our website to be eligible to apply.

https://cgs.org.uk/join-today/