Fifth and fullest edition of Jacobs the Jewellers’ emerging jewellery designer competition launches: A successful collaboration with the Bishopsland Educational Trust, the Goldsmiths’ Centre, HS Walsh and Jelly Arts
Jacobs the Jewellers, Reading’s oldest independent jewellery retailer, this week announced the start of its annual Emerging Designer competition with 2019 seeing the largest field of entrants in its five-year history.
The 4-week event based in the renowned Reading store features live craft demonstrations and a VIP winners’ event at 2.30pm on Friday 28thJune leading into the ‘Open for Art’ event in the town centre the following week. With a record-breaking 27 entries being exhibited in store, early visitors have been amazed at the craft, skill and imagination on show at Jacobs from this talented group of emerging artists.
14 emerging designers at The Bishopsland Educational Trust, a jewellery design postgraduate skills provider based in South Oxfordshire, are showing in competition one new silver design and one piece of jewellery at Jacobs the Jewellers, in the heart of Reading town centre. Open to the public between 10thJune and 8thJuly, visitors in the first 3 weeks will be able to vote for their favourite designs.
On Friday 28thJune, at 2.30 pm several of the makers will be demonstrating traditional craft skills in store at Jacobs. At 3.30pm votes will have been tallied: the winners will be announced with the events’ supporting partners. The winner of each category will win a £250 voucher to spend on tools to further their career, the runner up £100.
The last week of the exhibition joins with Reading’s established ‘Open for Art’ programme, curated by Jelly Arts, in showcasing art in unusual spaces.
The annual competition has been made possible for the Bishopsland Educational Trust through the initiative, cooperation and support of Jacobs the Jewellers, the Goldsmiths’ Centre, Jelly Arts and HS Walsh. All parties are supporting this competition with a clear commitment to the craft and artists of Bishopsland Educational Trust not to mention Reading as a creative centre in the South East.
