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.
Entries are now open for the 2019 Tapestry Showcase!
Deadline for entries
29 October 2019
The tapestry showcase offers an opportunity for aspiring weavers and students of weaving to exhibit and sell their work in a venue of national prestige. In 2019 we are delighted to return to the newly refurnished Scottish Cafe in the Nagional Gallery of Scotland’s Weston Link with another exhibition of small scale tapestries. Applications are open now.
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 Tapestry Showcase
is an exhibition held each year in The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant in the National Galleries of Scotland’s Weston Link overlooking Princes Street Gardens. The object of the showcase is to encourage amateur and emerging weavers, and to celebrate and sell their work in a venue of national prestige. We are now welcoming submissions for the December 2019 Showcase, deadline for entries 29 October.
2019 Cordis Prize for Tapestry Exhibition
We were delighted to present the shortlisted works for the fourth Cordis Prize for Tapestry in the stunning setting of Inverleith House, at the heart of Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. The shortlist of 17 artworks by 16 artists was selected from 75 submissions by artists from as far afield as India, Australia, and Russia, those chosen include renowned weavers from Japan, Norway, Canada, Denmark, Hungary and the United Kingdom. The winner of the £8000 prize was Brita Been for her epic floral motif, Vine.
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. In previous editions the shortlisted entries are drawn up by an illustrious panel including Fiona Mathison, Alison Watt, and Nicky Wilson, and they have been exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy as part of Visual Arts Scotland’s annual exhibition, and more recently at Inverleith House in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.