The Goldsmiths' Company

The Goldsmiths' Company Charity is delighted to announce the first recipients of the Landmark Grants Programme, a new fund to accelerate skills development in the UK.

The programme will award up to £10 million worth of grants to four recipients, which they will receive from the Company Charity in three tranches between 2023 and 2035. The programme aims to maximise the Charity’s impact by supporting projects that alleviate poverty, create opportunities and making a lasting impact through skills development.

The first four recipients of the fund are:
Aston University
The National Literacy Trust
St Paul's Cathedral
St Giles Trust

📸 The National Literacy Trust

Read more: https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/company-news/first-recipients-of-new-10m-fund-to-accelerate-skills-development-in-the-uk-announced

We are excited to announce that Anne-Christina (Annie) Warburton, CEO of Cockpit Studios (London’s leading centre for contemporary craft) and former Creative Director of Crafts Council, has been appointed Clerk and CEO of The Goldsmiths’ Company, starting in January 2024.

With more than 20 years’ experience in creative industries organisations that span the private, public, and charity sectors, Annie is a respected specialist in contemporary craft with a track record of delivering tangible impact and creating opportunities for talented people from all backgrounds to achieve their creative potential. She has recently initiated and raised funds for a £3.24m capital project to expand and transform Cockpit’s Deptford studios. Supported by the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, STRIDE, and London Borough of Lewisham, the new studios open in December.

On taking up the role in January 2024, Annie will become the first female Clerk and CEO of the Goldsmiths’ Company in its history (the Company received its first Royal Charter in 1327) and will lead the Company towards its 700th Anniversary in 2027, where it will celebrate seven centuries of supporting the craft and trade, protecting consumers through testing precious metals and hallmarking, and improving life chances through its work with charity and educational partners.

Speaking today about Annie’s appointment, Charles Mackworth-Young, Prime Warden of The Goldsmiths’ Company said: “We greatly look forward to welcoming Annie to the Goldsmiths’ Company as our new Clerk and Chief Executive in January, after a thorough, competitive search process. Annie is a dynamic, aspirational leader who will bring vision and energy to the role, along with extensive experience in the UK-craft sector. She is the ideal candidate to lead us into, and beyond, our 700th anniversary in 2027, as we look to maximise our impact on the future of the craft and trade of silversmiths and jewellers – which contribute so much to the UK's creative industries.”

Read more: https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/company-news/anne-christina-warburton-announced-as-clerk-and-ceo-of-the-goldsmiths-company

The Goldsmiths’ Company is deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we offer our deepest condolences to His Majesty The King and The Royal Family.

On Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 of March the Goldsmiths' Company Charity will welcome over 20 schools from across the country to present in the Regional Finals of the Goldsmiths' Awards for Community Engagement.

Each year, schools from across the UK present the many different voluntary efforts they have organised in order to support their local community and improve lives. Past projects have looked at themes of national significance such as dementia care, homelessness, knife crime and the environment.

Watch the video from last year's awards to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwgSqdjHgQA

Don't miss the opportunity to exhibit at this year's Goldsmiths' Fair. Applications close Monday 28 February!

Apply now before Monday 28 February for your chance to exhibit at the 40th anniversary of > https://www.goldsmithsfair.co.uk/apply/

Are you an independent jeweller or silversmith who has less than six people at the bench? Do you know someone who meets this criteria?
To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
💎 Not in full time education at time of application
💎 Is a UK resident, spending 183 days or more in the UK in the tax year
💎 Employing 6 people or fewer at the bench
💎 Able to be always on their stand during the Fair
💎 Applying with work that has been designed and made in the UK
💎 Applying with work where each piece includes precious metal(s)
💎 Intending to exhibit goods that are compliant with the UK Hallmarking Act of 1973
💎 Representing themselves and not solely acting as an agent for others
💎 Is in agreement with all the Terms & Conditions and Rules & Regulations in the application form

Image: Disa Allsopp Jewellery

Applications for this year’s Goldsmiths' Fair open on 17 January. This promises to be a big one as we look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary as the UK’s premiere destination for fine jewellery and contemporary silver.

To apply for this year’s Fair, you must meet the following criteria:

💎 Applying with work where each piece includes precious metal(s)
💎 Intending to exhibit goods that are compliant with the UK Hallmarking Act of 1973
💎 Applying with work that has been designed and made in the UK
💎 Employing 6 people or fewer at the bench
💎 Not in full time education at time of application
💎 Representing themselves and not solely acting as an agent for others
💎 Able to always be on their stand during the Fair
💎 Is a UK resident, spending 183 days or more in the UK in the tax year
💎 Is in agreement with all the Terms & Conditions and Rules & Regulations in the application form

For more information visit: www.goldsmithsfair.co.uk/apply

The 2021 Goldsmiths' Awards for Community Engagement. The awards saw students from across the country come to Goldsmiths' Hall to present the many ways they had contributed to the wellbeing of their surrounding community and how they wish to expand on these going forward.

Congratulations to The John Roan School, Saint Pius X Catholic High School, Leeds East Academy, Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey, Gordon's School, Bromsgrove School, Ryburn Valley High School for making it to the finals!

The winners of this year's awards were Eden Girls School Coventry, whose voluntary work promoting interfaith collaboration within the city of Coventry earnt them the top spot.

Improving lives has been a part of the Goldsmiths' Company activities for over 700 years. We look forward to hearing more about the many ways that these schools look to continuing their voluntary initiatives.

We can’t wait to welcome this year’s finalists of the Goldsmiths’ Awards for Community Engagement at the end of the month. The schools involved have all looked at sustainability, community engagement, homelessness, support and education throughout their projects.

Congratulations to The John Roan School, Saint Pius X Catholic High School, Leeds East Academy, Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey, Gordon's School, Bromsgrove School, Ryburn Valley High School and Eden Girls School Coventry for making it to the finals!

Photograph: 2019 winners, Manchester Grammar School.

“My interest and passion really is in the detail. I want to learn the technique, to perfect it, for the finish to be perfect. That’s where the true pleasure lies in jewellery for me."

Read Part III of Modern Masters with Silvia Furmanovich told through the words of Melanie Grant for Goldsmiths' Stories: https://stories.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/furmanovich/