Sheffield Forgemasters announced that it has sponsored a national creative award to highlight the finest examples of contemporary metal design in the country. The Museums Sheffield Metalwork Design Award 2010 offers artists and craftsmen from across the UK to chance to win a GBP 10,000 prize and showcase their finest work.

Designers have from November 2nd 2009 until October 2010 to submit entries which will be judged by panelists including the Duke of Devonshire, director of the Crafts Council Ms Rosy Greenlees and Mr Corin Mellor of David Mellor Design.

Mr Nick Dodd CEO of Museums Sheffield said that "The Museums Sheffield Metalwork Design Award is a testament to the skill and creativity of artists and makers who continue to push the boundaries of their design practice. The 2008 award entries showed both inspiration and innovation and we hope that 2010 sets new standards in design and artistry. Sheffield has a rich heritage of metalwork production and is a fitting home for this national prize honoring the finest talents in contemporary metal design."

The deadline for draft proposals is March 2010, following which the panel will select a shortlist of 12 makers who will be invited to realize their designs.

Mr Graham Honeyman CEO at Sheffield Forgemasters said that "Sheffield has long been associated with the best metalworking skills in the world and it is only right that Forgemasters, as the UK's last independently owned large scale steel engineering company, should be associated with this award, which rewards innovation and creativity."

Short listed works will go on display at Sheffield's Millennium Gallery in October 2010, with the winner announced at an awards ceremony later that month.