The Ethical Making Programme | 2023 in Review
At The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust (SGT) we are looking back on our Ethical Making Programme over the last year. We are hugely grateful for our community, that has grown through this year’s various projects and events. Read on for our month-by-month EM Programme highlights.
January
Gems & Jewellery Article
An article on Ethical Making featured in the Winter Issue of the Gem-A, Gems and Jewellery magazine, published just before Christmas 2022. The article both recognises and amplifies the important work undertaken within our collaborative network to sustain positive change in our industry through the EM Programme and beyond.
February
Events on Ethical Making
The programme saw a flurry of events this month including the second session of the academic year with our Ethical Making Ambassadors, selected from Pledge signatory institutions across the UK. Our guests Ute Decker & Lisa Rothwell Young shared their insights on identifying and communicating their values to clients, before we discussed the change ambassadors were making within their courses.
Our team also participated in the Fair Luxury held a Pledge-themed Open House and an online Panel Discussion event ‘Our Beautiful Planet: Sustainability as Subject and Material’ with the ACJ (Association for Contemporary Jewellery) in conjunction with the ‘Meanings & Messages’ Exhibition, hosted by The Goldsmiths’ Centre.
Ambassador Session 2
March
5 Years since the first EM Pledge signing
This month marked five years since college department heads from all seven of the art colleges in Scotland (offering jewellery courses at HND level and above) formally signed the Ethical Making (EM) Pledge. Thank you to all who have supported and collaborated with us through this initiative.
Ethical Gem Fairs
We were pleased to co-host the March and October Ethical Gem Fairs with Gemstones Brazil and Nineteen48 at the Clockwise Offices in Leith, where SGT are based. It was great to welcome makers and students to peruse and chat about coloured gemstones and ethical making, with many leaving with a delightful array of stones for commissions and stock.
April
Belfast School of Art signs the Ethical Making Pledge
Samantha Moore, Lecturer in Silversmithing and Jewellery at BSoA signed the Ethical Making Pledge with Anna Gordon representing SGT.
The Goldsmiths’ Hall Library & Archives
We have been collaborating with the librarians at The Goldsmiths’ Hall to aid our audiences’ research in Ethical Making related themes. The EM Resource is now in their ‘Open Access’ section, and we are now keeping the Library & Archives team up-to-date with any key publications we are aware of.
May
Sharing Community Activity
Throughout the year we have shared news and insights through the Resource ‘News’ section, including a themed summary of the 2022 Initiatives in Art and Culture, 12th Annual Gold and Diamond Conference, a Q&A with The Edinburgh Assay office on consumer awareness, and continued our ‘Material Investigations’ series exploring Fairmined Gold and AgAIN Silver from The Betts Group.
June
Bishopsland Educational Trust Signs the Ethical Making Pledge
On the 30th of June, The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust were honoured to sign the Ethical Making Pledge with Bishopsland Educational Trust at their 30 Year Celebration at Goldsmiths’ Hall, London. We look forward to collaborating with the new Principle, Angela Cork moving forward.
July
Ambassador Wrap-up
To wrap up the Ethical Making Ambassador’s role each academic year, we celebrate their key contributions and activity undertaken within their respective education institutions across the UK. Ambassadors’ share their perspective through a blog on the Resource ‘News’ section, which are gradually published over the Summer period. Below are images taken by ambassadors, which you can learn more about in their blogs.
August
EM Programme Report Published
We are proud of our first Ethical Making Programme Report this year, which records data on all aspects of our currently programme activity, including the Ethical Making Resource, Pledge and broader activity.
September
Ethical Metalsmiths International State of Practice
We were grateful to contribute to this webinar by sharing key findings in our Report that can support educators. This webinar series was created by Ethical Metalsmiths to address the urgency of sustainability in the field of Jewellery and Metalsmithing, focusing on issues uniquely relevant to students, educators, and new professionals globally. A recording of the event is available via their website.
Copenhagen Commitment Solutions Workshop
The Copenhagen Commitment brought together independent thinkers and organisations to identify four key areas to take action in our industry. This broadly explored defining terminology and methods for gathering credible data, lobbying based on a manifesto, communication strategies to empower people throughout the industry and empowering people in mining communities. The next Workshop will be in January 2024, which will follow up on progress made by groups since the first gathering. These events are kindly hosted by The Goldsmiths’ Centre.
October
SGT Visits & Introductory Talks
We delivered six in-person and five online introductory talks this year to educational institutions across the UK about The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust and our Ethical Making programme. Part of the presentation shared more information on the complex supply chain issues faced in our sector: enabling discussion around material choice and raised awareness for the Ethical Making Ambassador role. Pledge signatory institutions were invited to select two Ambassadors for 2023/24.
November
Ethical Making Student Ambassador Session
On the 30th of November Ebba, Karen and Stuart Pool from Nineteen48 welcomed the 2023/24 cohort of EM Ambassadors at the first of our bi-annual online EM Ambassador sessions. Ambassadors explored key ethical terms, learnt about gemstone supply chains with Stuart, and connected over discussions on shared ethical dilemmas and progressive ideas on how they can take positive action during the academic year on behalf of their institution.
Shortlisted: Creative Edinburgh Award
We are thrilled the Ethical making Programme was a finalist for The Sustainable Creativity Award at the 2023 Creative Edinburgh Awards!
Special Thanks
Thank you to all who contributed and engaged with our Ethical Making Programme this year. We look forward to further promoting and supporting ethical making practices in 2024. We are also grateful to our partners on the EM Programme, The Goldsmiths’ Centre, and to our EM Committee for guiding our strategy.