A New Home for Silversmithing

The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust (SGT) in parternship with Marchmont Creative Spaces launches a brand new fully equipped workspace for silversmiths in Scottish Borders. The workshop will profile silversmithing as an important part of Scotland's craft heritage and support its future. Our ethos at Marchmont is in the spirit of the Arts & Crafts movement, inspired by the natural world so we are delighted to further enrich the cultural profile of the area by adding silversmithing to our studio and workshop spaces.

The workshop will provide opportunities for three early career silversmiths to develop their businesses over a two year tenancy, with mentoring from master silversmith, Ryan McClean

A fifth bench will provide space for one-week to one-month long residencies, enabling silversmiths across the UK and internationally to develop new work and welcome knowledge and cultural exchange.

Project Background

In 2020, the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust was generously gifted the entire contents of the late Master Silversmith Graham Stewart's workshop, including the tools, machinery and books he collected throughout his career and used on a daily basis. It was Graham's wish, and the wish of his family, that these continue to be used to support early career silversmiths in Scotland.

Graham Stewart designs

Access to tools and a fully equipped workshop is one of the major challenges facing early career silversmiths. The workshop at Marchmont will be fully kitted out with a vast array of tools and equipment including a huge variety of stakes, hammers, lathe, fly press, drills, engraving tools, vices and much more that have been gifted to the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust.

Weekend Celebration

We have planned a weekend celebration which will delight fellow silversmiths along with supporters of traditional crafts, artists, collectors, curators and makers.

We also have accommodation available for those who would like enough time to unwind in the comfort and splendour of Marchmont House, the recently restored 'Grade A' listed Palladian mansion awarded the Historic Houses/Sotheby's Award in 2018.

For those staying overnight this is an intimate 'house party' offering two nights stay with dinner, breakfast, lunch and drinks included. The celebration dinner on Saturday evening is a black tie event which will take place in the magnificent Lorimer Dining Room at Marchmont. Weekend guests will also be taken on a guided tour of the house and a special outdoor walk in the grounds with Marchmont director, Hugo Burge.

Lorimer Dining Room

Programme

Arrive on the Friday afternoon in time for tea and cakes, followed by an opportunity to tour the Marchmont Art Collection with our Curator, Francis Raeymaekers before taking in the peace and quiet of the Berwickshire countryside from the Terrace for drinks, before sitting round the table in the Old Kitchen Gallery for an informal dinner.

After a 'Full Marchmont' breakfast Saturday sees the official opening ceremony of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop and we will include a full programme of talks, panel discussion, silversmith demonstrations, workshop visit and the raising of a communal bowl along with plenty of time to meet fellow makers and enthusiasts. All teas, coffees and a seasonal buffet lunch is included in the day ticket.

Graham Stewart, bowl

Day Programme

Saturday Morning

09:30             Refreshments on Arrival

10:25             Welcome
                       
Ebba Goring, Chief Executive of TheScottish Goldsmiths Trust

10:30             Marchmont: A new home to makers and creators
                       Hugo Burge, Director of Marchmont Ventures

10:45             The Power of Craft in a Transformational Age: How previous movements inform the future of culture
                       Lisa Koenigsberg, President & Founder of Initiatives in Art and Culture NYC

11:15             Comfort break

11:30             The Marchmont SilversmithingWorkshop: A New Home for Silversmithing
                       Ebba Goring,Chief Executive of The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust

11:45             The Fifth Bench: International Residency at the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop: Creativity, Collaboration and Community
                      Professor Sandra Wilson, University of Dundee; Andean silversmithing, Endangered Material Knowledge Programme of the British Museum. Dr Emilia                        Ferraro, Lecturer in Sustainable Design, University of Dundee

                     We welcome Gabriela Andrade and Fernando Buitron from Ecuador - the first residencies at Marchmont, with residency supported by the Marchmont                        Makers Foundation and travel to Scotland made possible by The Silver Society and University of Dundee.

11:55             Silver in Contemporary Life: Panel Discussion moderated by Corinne Julius, Critic & Applied Arts Journalist
                     Bryony Knox, Silversmith & Trustee of The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, Sheng Zhang, Silversmith, Colin Fraser, Consultant Silver Specialist, Lyon & Turnbull
                     Anna Gordon, Head of Department, Silversmithing and Jewellery Design at The Glasgow School of Art

12:45             Buffet Lunch and sign-up for afternoon activities

Saturday Afternoon

14:00             The Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop Formal Opening Ceremony
                      Hugo Burge will cut the ribbon and formally open the workshop.

14:15             Afternoon Activities
                      An informal afternoon of fun activities for silversmiths and visitors.Visitors will be divided into small groups and invited to take part in activities.

                    Silversmithing Workshop Tour: Meet the Marchmont Makers
                       Guided tour of the workshop, meet the silversmiths and watch demonstrations.

                     Raising of a Silver Community Bowl: Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop
                       All visitors are invited to take part in raising from a flat sheet of recycled silver, a ‘Community Bowl’.

                          Refreshments will be available in the Common Room

                     Group Discussion: Sustainability and ethical working practices for silversmiths
                       An opportunity to take part in a practical discussion about steps you can take as a silversmith to make your business more sustainable and what it means                        for your business with Dr Karen Westland.

16:30             Refreshments

17:00             Day end and transport to Berwick-upon-Tweed station

Good to Know

Please contact us after booking if you have any dietary or access requirements. If the ticket you are looking for is unavailable, please also get in touch with our office

Dress code: Casual (with outdoor shoes and waterproof coat recommended too) but a more formal 'black tie' for the celebration dinner on the Saturday night.

Tickets for this Event are not yet available, please sign up to the Newsletter to be informed
when they go on sale.
This Event is now Sold Out! Please view our other upcoming events here.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Our cancellation period is 14 days in advance.

We will happily offer a refund or a credit for a later date before then, please do get in touch.

Should we cancel the event for any reason you will receive a complete refund.

See more Events

Samling Artist Programme Masterclass - Autumn
Sold Out

Samling Artist Programme Masterclass - Autumn

30
Nov
2024
-
30 Nov
2024

Find out what makes a great artist in this intimate and informal afternoon of song and opera with Samling Institute for Young Artists.

Our Newsletter

Subscribe to be the first to hear about upcoming Events & Occasions.

Thank you for subscribing!
Something went wrong while submitting the form, please try again.