In the spirit of Ruth Pennington, the SMG is offering this grant for teachers.
Ruth Pennington (1905-1998), whose tenure began as an instructor in 1927 at the School of Art at the University of Washington, culminated her teaching career as head of the Metals Department in 1970. As a respected master craftsman in the field of jewelry and hollowware, she apprenticed in Copenhagen at the silversmithing workshops of A. Michaelson and D. Permanante. She was a founding member of Northwest Designer Craftsmen and Friends of the Craft in Seattle. At her exhibition of her craft at the Henry Gallery in 1961, Walter Isaacs, the head of the School of Art wrote her a letter, which she cherished, and stated, "It's as if metal were clay in your hands. You have risen above the difficulties of the craft and heave reached expression." Ruth Pennington left us with the now-accepted notion that well-made crafts, utilitarian or not, have a place among traditional fine arts -- a notion made legitimate by her work and activism.
Description: Two separate grants of a maximum of $500 will be awarded. This annual grant is designed to be used by teachers in the field of metalsmithing at any educational facility. The money is intended to be used towards a specific project or class.
In exchange for this grant, the recipient is required to make a presentation to the general membership related to their project or class. This presentation can be a live lecture, an article in the newsletter, a demonstration, a workshop or a video. The presentation is intended to create a dialogue between members and to share experiences. The guild will archive this presentation and retains the right to use the presentation material at any future date. Recipients will make arrangements for the presentation with the selection committee after being notified of their award.
Eligibility: This scholarship is available to any professional educator who is teaching metalsmithing or a related field. This scholarship is awarded with a preference for projects that expand the metal arts field by affecting a larger number of students, and/or by fostering cultural diversity. Applicants must reside in the Pacific Northwest, which is comprised of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Application: Application packets will not be returned. All applications must include the following:
- 1) A letter of intent (maximum 2 pages) including the following:
- A detailed description of the project with a timeline
- A budget (with an awareness of market volatility)
- 2) A current resume
- 3) Digital examples of student work
- 4) A completed application form (download here)
Deadline for Applications: There are two rounds of applications for this scholarship annually. The schedule is as follows:
- Applications due January 1:
- Recipients will be announced March 15th
- Applications due July 1:
- Recipients will be announced September 15th
Note: These are NOT "postmarked by" deadlines.
Applications should be addressed:
Attn: Seattle Metals Guild Scholarship Committee
1425 Broadway #154
Seattle, WA 98122-3854
