Request for Proposals: Design of a New Robert Merritt Award Trophy
25th Annual Merritt Awards – 2027
Theatre Nova Scotia is excited to invite proposals for a new design for our pewter Merritt trophy statue. This new design will commemorate our 25th annual awards ceremony in 2027!
First established in 2002, the Robert Merritt Awards have celebrated outstanding work in the Nova Scotia professional theatre community for almost 25 years. The original design for the Merritt trophy was created by David Christoffel of Amos Pewter, and has served as a beautiful symbol for the awards since their inception.
As we approach this next milestone in the life of the Merritt Awards, we are excited to imagine a new trophy design – one that honours the legacy of the current shape, while introducing a fresh new aesthetic to usher us forward.
The new trophy will continue to be made of Pewter material, and we hope to solicit a design that keeps the spirit of the original design, while incorporating new design elements.
What we are looking for:
- A new award trophy shape/design that can be crafted into a 3D Pewter mold.
- An amorphous trophy shape; non-humanoid, and aesthetically exciting.
- A design that still evokes the spirit of our outgoing design.
- A clear and clean shape that will also serve as a recognizable new logo for the Awards.
- A design that is both aesthetic, but also practical for handling and continued mass production.
Reference Material:
- Please see here for an assembly of other Theatre Award shapes across Canada.
- Please see the Merritt Awards website here for inspiration on the spirit of our awards.
Eligibility:
This call is open to any and all Nova Scotian visual artists, craftspeople and metalworkers. Individuals and collaborative teams are welcome to apply!
Applicants are asked to Submit:
- A portfolio link with pictures of your previous work
- A current bio relating to your arts practice
- A small blurb (400 words or less) on your thoughts for the artistic direction/vision of where this new design could go;
What do you see in the old trophy that inspires you? What would you carry forward? Is there anything about the Merritt Awards that might inspire you for your creation?
Please also feel free to tell us about your work and what you find exciting about this opportunity!
If applicants would like any additional information or context, or have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to ask us! At <theatrens@theatrens.ca>
Budget & Timeline:
The successful applicant will receive a design fee of$2,500 for their work, and will be credited as the designer on Theatre Nova Scotia’s materials.
From the initial round of Proposal Requests, three top candidates will be selected to move forward. These three artists will be asked to draft an initial sketch proposal. All three artists will be paid an honorarium of $250 for their sketch work.
Then the successfully chosen artist will be asked to create their sketch into the final 3D award shape, and will be paid $2,250 as their remaining fee.
How to Submit:
Please submit your application to us at <submissions@theatrens.ca>
The submission deadline is Friday, May 15th, 2026.
Successful applicants will be chosen by vote, from an Ad Hoc Merritt Awards Committee made up of professional theatre members from across Nova Scotia.
The selected artist will work collaboratively with the Merritt Awards team to finalize the design for production. The final trophy will debut at the 25th annual Merritt Awards ceremony in 2027.
For questions or additional information, please contact us at <theatrens@theatrens.ca>
We look forward to seeing your creative vision help shape the future of the Merritt Awards.
