The jewellery industry announces a scholarship to support black students
Fifty jewellery brands have united to create a long-term scholarship and mentorships to support black students at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology
A new scholarship fund to support black students attending the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Jewelry Design programme has been announced by the jewellery industry. The scholarship and mentorships, which will be ongoing, unite 50 jewellery brands who have created a $50,000 endowment fund to support those traditionally underrepresented in the industry.
The Art Smith Scholarship Fund is named after the New York-based jewellery designer Art Smith, whose pieces captured the modernist spirit of the 20th century. Uniting Surrealist motifs with hypnotic geometrical outlines, he was fascinated by the human body, concerned both with the ways jewellery could be worn and how he could sculpt the shapes of living organisms themselves into his jewels.
His work captured the imagination of public figures – Eleanor Roosevelt commissioned a brooch, while the cufflinks he made for Duke Ellington cleverly incorporated the first notes of Ellington’s Thirties classic, Mood Indigo.
His innovative approach to jewellery design make him an inspiring figurehead for this new endowment. ‘Black jewellery designers are incredibly underrepresented in the industry,’ says Randi Molofsky, co-founder For Future Reference who have co-organised the initiative. ‘We wanted to create something long-lasting that would actively seek out talent and give those students the tools they need to find success, through both study and mentorship. The ideas of education and access led the way.’
The endowment will remain open; going forwards, it will be reinvested and grown. Learn more about how to get involved here.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
Get to know Issey Miyake’s innovative A-POC ABLE line as it arrives in the UK
As A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake launches in London this week, designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae gives Wallpaper* the lowdown on the experimental Issey Miyake offshoot
By Jack Moss Published
-
Eurovision unveils its 2024 stage, designed by Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour creatives
This year's stage design aims to bring the audience into the performance more than ever before.
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Ikea meets Japan in this new pattern-filled collection
New Ikea Sötrönn collection by Japanese artist Hiroko Takahashi brings Japan and Scandinavia together in a pattern-filled, joyful range for the home
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to know
These independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal pieces
A host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a moment
We've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Eternity rings for the modern couple
Eternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Alternative engagement rings with an edge
As the sales of engagement rings sky-rocket during lockdown, enjoy our off-kilter curation of edgy and unconventional engagement rings
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Hair jewellery to covet and collect
Today’s hair jewellery is both practical and pretty. We're pinning our hopes on these simple and elegant accessories
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
CryptoPunks come to life on Tiffany & Co pendants
Tiffany & Co has partnered with blockchain infrastructure company Chain to create custom pendants and NFTiffs
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Andreas Kronthaler’s costume jewellery for Vivienne Westwood is fun, flirty and fabulous
Andreas Kronthaler’s new jewellery draws on romantic and theatrical motifs
By Hannah Silver Last updated