In 2012, renowned war correspondent Marie Colvin was tragically killed while reporting in Syria, her life claimed by the very conflict she was trying to document. Marie, like many others, was driven by a deep commitment to truth and justice. On The Record is a unique memorial dedicated not only to her, but to all British and UK-based journalists who have sacrificed everything in the pursuit of free speech. It will serve as a powerful tribute to their courage, their dedication and their legacy

Introduction

Every day, journalists risk their lives to bring us the truth, often working in war zones and hostile environments.

The stories they tell shape the way we understand the world and, in many cases, change the course of history.

Sadly, a number of them pay the ultimate price for dedication to their craft.

This memorial will ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten and that future generations are reminded of the value of free speech and the importance of journalistic integrity.

The Royal Society of Sculptors, in partnership with the On The Record memorial trustees, invites submissions from artists and sculptors to design and deliver an innovative and inspirational public artwork to be installed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

This memorial will commemorate UK and UK-based journalists killed in conflict and will form part of the wider On the Record memorial initiative.

The memorial, which will tell a compelling story, is to be funded through donations from those connected with the media and public subscription, with a total project budget, to include research and delivery of an online resource, of £1 million.

Within this, the memorial cost is estimated at £500,000, inclusive of design, production, transportation, installation and all ancillaries.

A further £50,000 (inclusive) is to be set aside to enable either a scale version of the sculpture or a complementary work to be produced and installed within St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street. Initial fundraising efforts have seen up to £300k pledged, ahead of wider outreach to media owners and other potential donors.

The trustees are confident that the memorial element of this project will go ahead, however artists must recognise that submissions are made at risk. 

The proposed timeline is:

• Competition Announced: 3rd November 2025
• Application deadline: 9th January 2026
• Shortlist announcement: 23rd January 2026
• Visit to site: February 2026 (tbc)
• Presentation of plans, costings and maquettes, followed by interviews: March 2026 (tbc)
• Installation complete: March 2027 (tbc)
• Formal unveiling: May 2027 (tbc)

Background

The On The Record memorial commemorates British and UK-based journalists who lost their lives in conflict zones.

It aims to honour their courage, sacrifice and commitment to truth, while also raising awareness of the risks faced by media professionals in war and conflict reporting.

This initiative, in partnership with Press Gazette and St Bride’s Church, builds on the legacy of the UK’s commitment to press freedom and the protection of journalists.

It will include an online database and educational resources to ensure the stories of those commemorated are accessible to future generations.

The online resources will include archive footage and interviews with family members, seeking to tell the stories of those who sacrificed their lives to deliver the truth around conflict.

Location

The memorial will be situated at the National Memorial Arboretum, a 150-acre visitor attraction in Staffordshire dedicated to remembrance.

It is part of the Royal British Legion and hosts over 400 memorials, welcoming more than 300,000 visitors annually, including many on learning visits.

Among the many military memorials are a wide array of tributes to other groups and individuals who have in some way served, suffered and sacrificed their lives.

The Arboretum has grown in stature since opening in 2001 and, benefiting from over 100 Royal visits, it has become the place where our nation remembers.

Artists with works at the site include Ian Rank-Broadley, Georgie Welch, Paul Day, Graeme Mitcheson, Peter Walker, Andy DeComyn, Peter Barnes and Jill Berelowitz.

Initial conversations suggest that the memorial, which will drive footfall to the site, is to be considered for a prominent location, on the edge of a rapidly maturing woodland, adjacent to the site’s wildflower meadow.

Nearby installations include creative tributes to the Quaker Service Memorial, Trees of Life (a living tribute to those who served our country throughout the pandemic and remembering all those who died from COVID-19 in the UK), the Royal British Legion Remembrance Glade and the Tree of Cherished Memories.

Objectives

• Honour British and UK-based journalists killed in conflict or while reporting from war zones.
• Recognise the role of journalism in being the foundation of democracy, documenting truth and bearing witness.
• Provide an inclusive space for reflection and remembrance, with a particular focus on it becoming an engaging gateway to learning for young people.
• Celebrate the values of courage, integrity and freedom of expression.

Themes

• Truth and sacrifice
• Courage under fire
• The power of storytelling
• The fragility and resilience of freedom
• The role of journalism in democracy and conflict

Priorities

• International standard artwork
• Strong visual impact, immersive experience, emotional resonance
• Unique, innovative and thoughtful design
• Accessibility and clarity of message
• Durability and ease of maintenance
• Integration with the Arboretum’s landscape and ethos
• Educational potential and community engagement

Production and Maintenance

Artists must consider:

•  Materials and infrastructure needs
•  Maintenance in perpetuity (to be managed by the Arboretum)
• Environmental and safety considerations
• Lead times and installation logistics
•  Memorial must not incorporate the names of individuals
• Compliance with the Arboretum's design guidelines for new memorials: https://www.thenma.org.uk/docs/default-source/legal-documents-and-policies/sop-44-memorial-application-and-alteration-policy---rev-15---dec-24.pdf 

Budget

The total budget is £550,000 inclusive of:

• Artist design fee
• Production, transportation and installation
• Groundworks and technical support
• Maintenance provisions
• Scale work to be provided to St Bride’s

Artists should submit a preliminary budget and plan covering all aspects of the memorial’s delivery. Note that the VAT position is still to be established, however the charity will be applying for HMRC memorial construction exemption.

Application / Submission

This is an open call to UK-based artists and sculptors with experience in nationally and internationally important public commissions.

Submissions should include:

• CV
• Examples of previous work of similar scale
• One-page response to the brief
• Draft visualisation or concept drawing

Shortlisted artists will be invited to an optional visit to the Arboretum (travel expenses of up to £100 can be claimed) and submit detailed plans, costings, and maquettes, following which a fee of £500 will be awarded.

The trustees request permission to retain the winning artist’s maquette in order to support ongoing fundraising activities.

All artists entering the competition give permission for a visualisation of their design to be used for public relations purposes (the intention is to share details of shortlisted entries with a national newspaper).

Judging Panel

Sarah Sands, chair of trustees, On The Record 

Sarah Sands has been a newspaper editor, an editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, a trustee of Index on Censorship and Deputy Chair of the British Council. She chaired the G7 gender equality advisory council in 2021 and remained on the council for three years. Sarah is an associate of the Imperial War Museum and a trustee of Bletchley Park Trust.

Andrew Baud, trustee and founder, On The Record 

Andrew is CEO of Talacom, an international public relations agency which has represented the National Memorial Arboretum for 18 years. He is the founder of On The Record, having been approached by a member of the public who felt it was essential that journalists killed in conflict were better commemorated.  

Andy Ansell, head of estates, National Memorial Arboretum 

Andy oversees the National Memorial Arboretum's 150-acre site and implementation of its landscape masterplan. Formerly with Glendale, he brings deep expertise in environmental management, green space strategy, and project planning. Passionate about both remembrance and horticulture, he encourages memorial applicants to be innovate and bold in their storytelling. He also led creation of the Arboretum’s award-winning Hamamelis collection and is a National and International Green Flag judge.

James Irving, head of finance and fundraising, St Bride’s 

James has worked at St Bride’s, the Journalists’ Church, since 1991, most recently as head of finance and fundraising. His role includes revenue and capital fundraising, preparing and delivering high-profile memorial services, carol services and concerts, dealing with charity governance and liaison with St Bride’s media and corporate supporters. He was integral to the introduction of an annual commemorative service for the media in 2010 and has overseen the establishment of the Journalists’ Altar, where those working within the media who have died, are held hostage, or whose fate is unknown, are commemorated with photo plaques.

Jon Williams, trustee, On The Record 

Three-time Emmy Award winning journalist turned media freedom advocate, Jon currently leads the Rory Peck Trust, a non-profit organisation that supports freelance journalists in crisis situations and is a Non-Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Mark Richards, Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors 

Mark Richards has, for most of his career, worked as a commission-based figure sculptor, completing more that 260 (life-size or over) works for public and private space. He has a BA Hons in Art History, (Manchester University), a City and Guilds Diploma in Sculpture/Carving and trained under architectural sculptor A. J Ayres. Mark combines a good understanding of traditional sculpture techniques with a delicate touch and aims to create thoughtfully composed and beautifully executed work of emotional intensity.  Mark devised and ran portrait sculpture training sessions as Stanton Group Studios from 2013-17 and has, from time to time, been on selection panels, most recently for the Smithfield Square Lower Commission, Dublin in 2020.  A believer in drawing as imaginative relief, this year he established The Drawing Space which is weekly, free-of-charge sessions of online group practice; drawing in private, together

Judging Criteria

The criteria that will be used for judging submissions are as follows (category, description, score)

Memorialising - Thoughtful design with lasting meaning - /10
Time & Space - Response to site, materials and maintenance - /10
Contextual Response - Social, national and international relevance - /10
Design & Motivation - Artistic inspiration, ambition and alignment with brief - /40

Useful links

The National Memorial to Journalists on the Frontline

National Memorial Arboretum

Royal British Legion | Armed Forces Charity

St Bride's Church

Funding push for first UK national journalists' memorial launched - Press Gazette