Museum of the Jewellery Quarter Jeweller In Residence Scheme 21/22

We are thrilled to announce the return of our Jeweller in Residence Scheme, in partnership with Birmingham City University. The scheme returns for a third year in 2021. We are looking for a graduate designer to design a new jewellery range for the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and become the Jeweller in Residence for 2021/22.

The Brief

The Jeweller in Residence Scheme is open to graduates of the Birmingham School of Jewellery. Applicants are invited to design a small jewellery range inspired by Birmingham and the Jewellery Quarter. We are particularly interested in seeing work that the designer feels will appeal to tourists, visiting the city in the year of the Commonwealth Games. The price point proposed should also reflect this being the target market.

We will be selecting one designer to become the third jeweller to receive the title of “Museum of the Jewellery Quarter Jeweller in Residence” with the unique opportunity to take inspiration from the factory and collections at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. There will be occasional opportunities to work from the historic jewellers bench in the Smith & Pepper factory. Additionally, there will be the opportunity to access Birmingham School of Jewellery’s outstanding modern facilities.

The successful jeweller will receive an exclusive retail contract for their design with Birmingham Museums plus a cash prize of £1000.

We are looking for a jeweller who shows passion for the project and the technical and design skills to deliver on the objectives.

The Prize:

1. £1000 cash prize.
2. A retail contract with Birmingham Museums of designs created on residency inspired by the Jewellery Quarter and the City, from 20th November 2021 (or earlier if first piece is commissioned earlier). If sales are strong there may be opportunity to extend. The contract will relate to sales via https://shop.birminghammuseums.org.uk and physical stores as Birmingham Museums see fit, under our standard terms.
3. Opportunity to work from the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter’s jewellers’ bench on scheduled dates once mandatory inductions have been passed.
4. Access to the School of Jewellery facilities once mandatory inductions have been passed.
5. The title of “Museum of the Jewellery Quarter Jeweller In Residence 2021/22”

How To Apply:

To put yourself forward to become our next Jeweller in Residence, email your digital portfolio of designs responding to the brief, to Emma Scott, emma.scott@birminghammuseums.org.uk by 23rd July 2021. The portfolio should be a minimum of 6 pdf pages illustrating your design process and final product, or final render of potential product. Include a 100 word rationale of why you would want to be Museum of the Jewellery Quarter Jeweller in Residence and how it would develop your career.

Closing Date

5pm 23^rd July 2021.

For more details including full contract details and T&Cs please download the MJQ Jewellery in Residence Competition Brief (PDF).

Find out more about our previous Jewellers in Residence:

Fiona Harris, Jeweller in Residence 2018/19

Vanessa Miller, Jeweller in Residence 2019/20