British Art Medal Society

The British Art Medal Society (BAMS) was founded in 1982 to promote the art of the medal through commissions, exhibitions, publications and events. The society is affiliated to FIDEM (the Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d’Art).
Mark Jones Mark Jones (museum director), the then curator of British Museum Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, and Ron Dutton, a medallist and sculptor, were key people in forming the society, when its formation was announced in the US periodical Coin World. 
BAMS commissions medals from internationally recognised sculptors as well as from students and recent art college graduates. Portraiture, abstraction, political comment and celebration are all features of their medals. Most are cast in bronze and patinated by the artist. The society also gives advice to individuals and organisations who are thinking of commissioning a medal.
Publications.
"The Medal", the Society’s international journal, is published by the British Art Medal Trust and also based at the British Museum Department of Coins and Medals, London. Fully illustrated, it contains articles on historical and contemporary medals and their makers, book reviews, and news about medallic events and exhibitions worldwide. The society occasionally publishes other books of medallic interest.
The President’s Medal.
The President's Medal is awarded to individuals and organisations that have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the study of historical medals and/or the production of contemporary medals. The President’s Medal has been awarded to:
Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art.
The Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art is run by the Marsh Christian Trust in partnership with BAMS. Its aim is to recognise an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to the understanding, appreciation and encouragement of the art of the medal. These have been awarded since 2011. Previous winners are: 
Student Medal Project.
In 1994 the society initiated the Student Medal Project. The Director is Marcy Leavitt Bourne. The project was designed to introduce art colleges in the UK and their students to the art medal. It offers students the challenge of designing and making an art medal on any subject, enabling them to participate in an international art project, learn bronze casting, have a chance to exhibit nationally & internationally, win a prize and have their work published.
One of the prizes is sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Cutlers who are supporters of the project