Mort Abelson Scholarship 2009
A contest open to anyone in the United States and Canada.

Scholarship Background
The contest honors Mort Abelson, who was instrumental in raising the awareness of jewelry design and promoting jewelry designers in the U.S. As President of Jewelers of America from 1975-1977, and then as director until 1995, Mort was responsible for overseeing the massive JA International Trade Show in New York. In order to spice up what was devolving into an ocean of look alike commercial jewelry, Mort had the brilliant idea to bring in a new group of exciting young designers each year. Under the banner, New Designer Gallery, Mort introduced hundreds of talented newcomers over the next three decades. Many launched their careers in the New Designer Gallery and have continued to make their marks as leaders in the field;  David Yurman, Esther Gallant, Whitney Boin, Diana Vincent, Steven Kretchmer, Eddie Sakamoto, Tom Kruskal, Penny Preville, Alex Sepkus, Susan Sadler and many more. Among the list is Alan Revere, who is also one of the country’s preeminent jewelry educators, teaching at the school he founded in 1979. As a designer and also a leader in jewelry training, with a long affiliation with Jewelers of America, Revere’s Academy was selected as the scholarship site.

Contest Prize
The contest winner will receive an all-expenses-paid scholarship from anywhere in the US to San Francisco (air, lodging, tuition and fees) for a master class of their choice during the Academy’s annual International Masters Symposium in April 2009. For three weeks during the Masters Symposium, prominent jewelry artists, designers, craftsman and experts converge on San Francisco to teach professional skills and techniques in the area of their greatest expertise. Marking the Academy’s own thirtieth anniversary, the upcoming event has an impressive celebrity lineup. David Yurman will teach The Complete Designer, Michael Good will teach Anticlastic Raising, Bernd Munsteiner will teach Cutting Included Gems, Kent Raible will teach Granulation, and more.

Click here to see the Masters Symposium classes offered.

Jurors
A jury composed of Mort Abelson, Alan Revere, and Cindy Edelstein will select the winner.

Entry Deadline
January 2, 2009  11:59 pm (PST)

Eligibility
The contest is open to anyone in the United States and Canada. Jurors will be looking for an individual whose work exemplifies original, innovative, high quality jewelry design. 

How to Apply
Applications will only be accepted  through our online application posted on  www.callforentry.org (CAFE).

Requirements include:
Entry fee of $25, payable by credit card or check
5 digital images of your jewelry
2 essay questions
Essay Question #1: Tell us about yourself in 100 words or less.
Essay Question #2: Tell us why you would like to attend the Revere Academy's 2009 Master Symposium in 100 words or less.

In order to apply through CAFE, you must sign up for a free account first. Once you have an account, login and upload 5 images (jpgs) of your work. Then click on the Apply to Calls tab and search for the Mort Abelson Scholarship.
Click here to set up an account.

Acceptance
Applicants will be notified via email by January 16, 2009.

Special Thanks
This unique scholarship was funded by designers, for designers. At a gathering in 2007 to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the New Designer Gallery, an auction was held to raise funds to honor Mort. Over 50 past participants of the New Designer Gallery and other jewelry artists donated a piece of their work to be auctioned, with the proceeds used for the scholarship. The artists/donors all wanted to acknowledge and thank Mort for his support in a way that perpetuates his energy and insight and helps up-and-coming jewelry designers. By paying back with their own creations, these generous artists are completing the circle and are paving the way for the next generation of jewelry designers.

Donors include:
Alan Revere
Alex Sepkus
Alishan
Amanda Megibow Jewelry Designs
American Jewelry Design Council
Amy Burkholder
Anatoli, Inc.
Ann Garrett
Anthony Nak
Cornelis Hollander Designs Inc.
Cornelis Hollander Designs Inc.
David Yurman, Inc.
Denny Wong Designs
Emanuela Duca Inc.
Emma-Jane & Tan
Esther Gallant
Fragments
Frederica
Gabriel D. Ofiesh II
George Sawyer Designs
Gurhan
Jane Bohan Inc.
Jeanine Payer Jewelry
Jeanne Johngren Design
Jeannette Fossas
Jennifer Kellogg
Joseph Murray
Julez Bryant
Julieri
K. Brunini Jewels
Laura Gibson Designs
Lup Rocks
Daren Christians/Metalwerx
Murphy Design
Marie-Helene Morrow / Reinhold Jewelers
Robert Lee Moris
Sakamoto
Sandy Baker
Sarah Graham Metalsmithing
Sasha Samuels Designer Goldsmith
Saundra Messinger
Schneider Design Studio
Scott Cusson
Somers Jewelry
Susan Helmich Designs
Susan Michel Ltd.
T. Lee Fine Designer Jewelry
The Touch Inc.
Tina Segal Collection
Tom Kruskal Designs
ViePoint
Zeira
Zina Sterling Silver
Tom Munsteiner
Michael Bondanza