The Cordis Prize
The Cordis Prizes were initiated by Miranda Harvey and Ian Rankin of the Cordis Trust in order to celebrate the city of Edinburgh as a centre of excellence for tapestry weaving. Through an ever expanding programme of activities we strive to promote links between established tapestry artists and the thriving community of enthusiastic amateur and emerging artists.
The Cordis Prize for Tapestry celebrates ambition in weaving on an international scale. It is the biggest international prize for this artform. Inaugurated in 2015, the prize and accompanying exhibition has attracted entries from all over the globe including Japan, Australia, Denmark and France.
The Cordis Prize for Tapestry 2021
We are delighted to announce that the Cordis Prize Shortlist Exhibition will return to Inverleith House in the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in Spring 2021. Due to current circumstances the exact date is currently undetermined.
Open for entries Oct 2020
Deadline for Submissions:
our current plan is to close submissions in mid January 2021, but this may change to accomodate the shifting programme at Inverleith House. We appreciate your patience at this time of uncertainty, but the show will go on, and we will keep you up to date as details emerge. Sign up to the mailing list to be sure you don;t miss out.
Image Credit Anna Ray
Past Projects
Over Under : Under Over
Exploring Weave in it’s Wider Context
22 Dec 2019 – 30 Jan 2020
In 2019 we embarked on an exciting project, teaming up once again with our friends at Visual Arts Scotland to present a curated selection of artworks that explore wider applications of the woven form. The selected artists were Dail Behennah (pictured), Celia Pym, Sue Lawty, Sadhvi Jawa, Sarah Jane Henderson and Elizabeth Ashdown.
The Physic Garden Group-work
In February 2019 a group of budding weavers embarked upon the largest collaborative woven tapestry piece made in Edinburgh in living memory. Celebrating the origins of the Botanic Gardens as a Physic Garden, we commissioned a design from artist Natalie Taylor who carried out extensive research into the history of Physic gardens and the representation of medicinal plants. Her design was translated by 64 budding artists into Edinburghs biggest ever group tapestry in an ambitious project led by esteemed weaving tutor Jo McDonald.
The Cordis Prize for Tapestry Archive
We have been celebrating ambition in weaving on an international scale since 2015. The prize and accompanying shortlist exhibition has attracted entries from all over the globe including Japan, Australia, Denmark and France. Previously held at The Royal Scottish Academy as part of Visual Arts Scotland’s annual exhibition, The Cordis Prize moved in 2019 to Inverleith House in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where it has become established as a biennial event. See details of previous editions of the prize here.