2022: The Flourish Jewellery Project

We are thrilled to welcome the Flourish Jewellery Project to Elements Festival in 2022. Work by Flourish Jewellery participants will be on display in the Upper Gallery.

Founded in 2020 The Flourish Jewellery Community Interest Company (CIC) is a socially engaged craft project within the field of contemporary jewellery design. As an organisation, we aim to empower marginalised groups and individuals through the act of making whilst examining the role of craft making, particularly contemporary jewellery design, and how it engages with disadvantaged, underrepresented and hard to reach communities.

Our vision is

‘To enable individuals from hard-to-reach communities to access high quality jewellery training taught by professional makers. By engaging in this project, participants can experience positive change which contributes to better health and wellbeing, alongside improved social and economic outcomes for themselves and the communities they live within.

The Flourish Programme

Our level one community training program was funded by Creative Scotland. This enabled participants to develop their skills in jewellery design including saw piercing, and texturing skills enabled them to create a unique piece of jewellery.  The exhibition was sponsored by Hamilton & Inches and was exhibited at Custom House Gallery.

The Glow Programme

With funding from The Goldsmiths’ Centre, Hamilton & Inches and private donors, our 2nd year  community training programme ‘The Glow Programme’ developed. It is providing learning opportunities which enable the participants to further develop their jewellery making skills to the next level. New techniques including bezel stone setting, enamelling, etching and fly pressing are being introduced this year allowing them to develop their experience in designing and making jewellery.  In October 2022 the work they have created will be exhibited as part of the Elements Festival of Jewellery, Silver and Gold Exhibition series.