• Sites
• Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved
• About the Memorial
• Memorial Competition
• Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why a conceptual design competition? A conceptual design competition will serve to identify and commission the design concept for our memorial to the enslaved at W&M.

What if the jury decides not to recommend a design? The terms of the competition include the option to not accept a design concept if the jury does not find a design that fits the university. Choosing a design is the responsibility of the jury. The conceptual design will have met all of the criteria outlined under the requirements section of the Call for Submissions.

How will the competition be advertised? It will be advertised in the usual online sources to students and alumni like any other William & Mary initiative. We will also use social media as well as other art and design websites to reach that audience. Additionally, competition information will be distributed to the Greater Williamsburg community through individuals and organizations who have an interest in and supported Lemon Project initiatives.

Who are the jurors and how were they selected? Our distinguished panel of jurors are a mix of academic and professional people who were chosen on the basis of their demonstrated excellence and commitment to the mission of the Lemon Project.

How will the designs be judged? They will be judged by how they respond to the criteria outlined under the requirements section of the Call for Submissions.

Who owns the copyright, permission and publication following review and award? William & Mary will own all rights and materials.

Who can cancel or reset the competition? The university has the right to cancel or reset the competition.

What are the prizes for the jury recommended conceptual designs? The creator of the concept shared with the Board will receive $1,000, and prizes of $750 and $500 will be awarded for the second- and third-place designs as determined by the president.

Will the three recommended designs still receive the prize money if the concept is not built or if the competition is cancelled? The prize money will be paid to the winning conceptual designers whether or not that design is the one that is ultimately built. If an unexpected event cancels the competition before winners are chosen, then the prize money will not be awarded.

Will this competition and memorial end the conversation about W&M's history with slavery? No! It will be part of the ongoing commemorative landscape that helps make William & Mary a special place, where a storied past provides firmly anchored foundations for future building.

Will the conceptual design recommended to the president and chosen automatically be awarded the final professional design project? No. However, the conceptual design winner will be eligible to submit an offer during the design procurement phase of the project.

Does the memorial need to match buildings and sculpture already on William & Mary's campus? The memorial does not need to meet any predetermined stylistic or historical design criteria.

What if I want to propose a memorial concept that is not physical? The Lemon Project Committee on Memorialization is planning additional means of memorializing the enslaved (scholarships, annual celebrations, community outreach, etc.) at William & Mary. Proposals for the competition must be buildable.

What is the purpose of submitting two files? Since judging is anonymous, the two files you submit will be linked but only the PROJECT file that contains your designs will be opened during judging. Only after the judges' decisions are final will the CONCEALED ID file be opened to identify the designer or design team.

Are site plans of William & Mary's Historic Campus available? Yes, see the Historic Campus site plans (pdf), Historic Campus site plan (ai), Wren Building drawings (pdf) and photographs of William & Mary's Historic Campus.

What is the climate in the Greater Williamsburg area? In Williamsburg, the summers are hot and muggy, the winters are very cold and it is wet and partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 32°F to 91°F and is rarely below 20°F or above 98°F. Competitors should consider the local climate when developing their design concepts.

Where can I learn more about the history of slavery at William & Mary? Please visit the following pages to learn more about the history of slavery at William & Mary and the names of the enslaved identified thus far. Please note research is ongoing.

How will you keep track of the PROJECT and CONCEALED ID files? Two separate files are required for all submissions; the PROJECT file and the CONCEALED ID file. The CONCEALED ID file consists of the completed CONCEALED ID (pdf) form. Please complete, sign and scan this form and submit as a PDF file. The PROJECT file consists of all visual documentation and the written narrative submitted in a single PDF file. Since judging is anonymous, the two files you submit will be linked by a matching ID number, but only the PROJECT file that contains your designs and narrative will be opened during judging. Only after the judges' decisions are final will the CONCEALED ID file be opened to identify the designer or design team.

Is there any chance of having a vector file, dwg or similar format of the site plan? Yes, a vector file of the site plan (ai) is available.

How tall are Ewell Hall and the James Monroe statue? Monroe's head is just over 12' from the ground. On Ewell Hall, the top of the string course (vertical line of bricks that defines the spring of the arches in the arcade) is 10'2" from the top step. These measurements should give scale for the rest of the buildings in the area.

Is the competition open to submissions from other countries? Yes, the competition welcomes international submissions. Eligibility requirements can be found under Requirements on the Call for Submissions page.

Will I retain copyright for my own work that is part of this submission? Will I retain the right to use the photos independently of the William & Mary submission? Are the photos also owned by William & Mary? Yes, you will retain the right to use the photos independently of the William & Mary submission. As stated in the CONCEALED ID (pdf), "Participant hereby conveys to W&M all copyright in the submission, if the submission is selected, in whole or in part, for use in the final memorial design." The selected design could not be used in future projects without permission from W&M.

Will I retain the right to use the submission as a sample of my work in submitting subsequent proposals for other projects? Yes, you would retain the right to use the submission as a sample of your work, after the winner has been formally announced.