Organization: Royal Society of the Arts UK
The RSA has awarded medals throughout its history to outstanding achievers who have been innovators in the liberal arts and sciences and contributed to progressive social change.
Until the mid 19th century prizes, known as premium awards, were introduced to help stimulate industry. These took the form of medals and financial rewards, given for new inventions, design and artistic merit. From 1850 until the 1970s medals were also awarded for the best papers read at the Society. The RSA medals awarded today are:
The Albert Medal
First awarded in 1864, the Albert medal was created as a memorial to Prince Albert, who had been President of the Society for 18 years. It was originally given 'for distinguished merit in promoting Arts, Manufactures and Commerce'. Today, it acknowledges individuals who contribute to social innovation.
Zarine Kharas, founder and CEO of online fundraising website Justgiving, was awarded the 2009 Albert Medal for democratising fundraising and technology for charities.
See a full list of the Albert Medal winners
The Benjamin Franklin Medal
This award was created in 1956 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Franklin's birth and the 200th anniversary of his membership of the Society.
Originally awarded to those 'who have attained early distinction, with promise of further achievement, in the promotion of arts, manufactures and commerce', the focus soon changed. The medal then came to acknowledge individuals, groups and organisations who enhanced Anglo-American understanding in areas closely linked to the Society's agenda, and was awarded alternately to citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom.
The medal is now awarded to a global 'big thinker' who has shifted public debate in an innovative way and contributed to furthering public discourse on human progress.
Elizabeth Gould, a Princeton professor of psychology, was awarded the 2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal for her groundbreaking brain research.
See a full list of the Benjamin Franklin Medal winners
The Bicentenary Medal
The Bicentenary Medal was created in 1954 to commemorate the founding of the Society. It was originally awarded to a person who, while not an industrial designer, had exerted an exceptional influence in promoting art and design in British industry.
The medal is still awarded annually to a non-designer who has had a strong influence in their field on the way design is used and appreciated, and who does, or is likely to, contribute to a major part of the RSA's work.
The 2009 medal was awarded to Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr, founders of Architecture for Humanity.
RSA Medals
