What Does The CWA Muse® Medallion Look Like?

One of the most important awards for cat artists, creatives and writers of all kinds is the CWA Muse medallion.

I wrote about designer Karen Kuykendall and the Cat Writers’ Association (CWA) medallion here, and this week I want to show the actual medallion that a winner receives.

Mine took a while to get here, thanks to pandemic posting but it finally arrived.

The Muse Says A Lot About The CWA

Not only are awards individually inscribed, detailing the category and the recipient’s name, but the medal is created by American company, Creative Casting who are based in Denison, Texas.

• You can see The Creative Casting logo on the back of the medal. I recognise the shape of that state. It’s Texas!

In these times of ‘cheap and cheerful’ and plastic make-do’s, to receive an award of such high quality gives the award real substance and value.

The CWA includes its entire worldwide membership in the ability to win awards and a CWA Muse Medallion.

• Let me emphasis the importance of this statement.

This is not a cheap option. It raises the CWA high above many organisations who might consider it unnecessary or too expensive to let anyone outside the Unites States win something that might take time and effort to send.

Overseas members are valued for their contribution in the best way. They can win a Muse themselves.

I am sure you, like me, think the medallion looks fabulous but you probably have no idea of its actual size. Let me show you.

The Muse Medallion Has Substance

I am not talking 2.4 centimetres, (about an inch), so you can wear it around your neck.

I hope that the photo above will give you an idea? I am holding the Muse in my left hand to take a photo with my right and, there is something special on the back too.

The medal is cast in real metal and it has my name and the category of the Muse I achieved, and the year of my win.

If you are a CWA member, you can be proud of your Association’s emphasis on worldwide inclusivity, as well as its willingness to move with the times. The CWA has been busy with extensive Contest Category revision to include the growing power of social media and online submission of work for members.

I am grateful for the friendship of many talented bloggers, cat artists and rescue folk including Kat from Kat, Ellie and Bear, and Marci Kladnik, who is responsible for ensuring awards are sent out and did a great job. I hope to meet many more of my Cat Writer friends at a real live future event!

• Are YOU a cat artist, writer, cartoonist or painter??? Join Today!

Join Dash Kitten on Social Media

20