Pledge Signing | Bishopsland Educational Trust
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.
The Ethical Making Pledge is a collaborative and community-based initiative for jewellery and silversmithing educational institutions. Signing the pledge signifies an institution’s commitment to implement ethical making practises into the curriculum, workshop practises and sourcing of materials.
Bishopsland Educational Trust is an internationally recognised and accredited charity dedicated to the training and education of young people in the craft of silversmithing in the United Kingdom.
As a charity, Bishopsland has nurtured the careers of over 200 silversmiths and jewellers over the last 30 years, the vast majority of whom have gone on to develop sustainable businesses in the UK. Today, their Fellows are some of the foremost craftspeople in their field. They continue to pass their skills on to others and contribute to maintaining excellence within Britain’s craft, trade and industry.
With the support of funders, the educational Trust have been able to award over £300k in bursaries to talented craftspeople regardless of background, means or academic ability. Bishopsland’s one- or two-year immersive residential training programme continue to provide a much-needed bridge between education and a career as a maker. Their inherent understanding of creativity and vocational skills training has developed over many years and is a proven formula for success.
As a charity, they continue to support their Fellows throughout their careers, offering opportunities for exhibitions, collaborations, commissions, and routes to market through an extensive network. The Trust believes wholeheartedly in supporting silversmithing, jewellery and the allied trades through the retention and underpinning of vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts.
Over 200 members of the industry and Fellows gathered at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Friday 30 June, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Bishopsland Educational Trust and view work by over 100 makers spanning its history.
Since it was founded in 1993 by Pope and Oliver Makower, it has become an internationally recognised and accredited charity dedicated to the training and support of people in the craft of silversmithing. Behind the growth of Bishopsland was Pope and Oliver’s vision, support and dedication and a generous patronage built from a belief in helping others.
Howard Dellar, Chairman of the Trustees thanked Pope & Oliver and the Makower Family for an extraordinary 30 years protecting and nurturing the industry. He noted the many reunions taking place were testament to the impact and reach Bishopsland has had on so many. He presented Pope with a book created by Fellows with photos and quotes spanning thirty years.
In accepting the gift on behalf of Pope and Oliver, William Makower read out words sent from Pope who was unable to attend:
“I am so proud of what Oliver and I managed to do and would have loved to have seen you all and heard how your lives have developed. So many stories and friendships have been created at Bishopsland and it’s been a privilege to have been part of your lives.
Oliver and I wish the Trustees, Angela and Claire all the very best as they plot the path of Bishopsland from here. It’s right that they now take over and ensure more young people have the opportunity to develop their skills and passion as you have done.
I hope you all have a wonderful evening and finally, and on behalf of all of you, I would like to thank the Goldsmiths’ (Company) for hosting tonight. Their generosity to Bishopsland over many years has been both constant and remarkable.”
The Chairman announced the recent appointment of Angela Cork as Principal of Bishopsland to a round of applause. Angela will formally take up her appointment from September 2023. He also thanked Bishopsland long standing key sponsors and restated the commitment by the Trust to build on the incredible legacy that Pope and Oliver founded, to continue to nurture and train aspiring silversmiths and ensure skills are protected and passed down to future generations to enjoy.
Handing over to speak on Angela’s behalf, Trustee Karin Paynter spoke of Bishopsland as one of the UK’s most important centres of silversmithing and jewellery education, providing an essential bridge from education to employment, self-employment, or business creation. And the creation of the Bishopsland Tools Library, to collect, curate and care for hand tools for future generations. Inviting Dr Karen Westland to the stage, the Chairman signed the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust Ethical Making Pledge, marking an important step for Bishopsland as it joins other colleges nationally to commit to embedding practical and theoretical learning about ethical making into its curriculum.
Thank you to the Bishopsland team and board of trustees for continuing on your ethical making journey with our community through the Pledge. We look forward to seeing future progress. The Bishopsland ‘Celebrating 30 Years’ event was supported by The Goldsmiths’ Company and sponsored by The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, VIPA Designs, Richard and Serena Fox of Fox Silver Ltd, Cookson Precious Metals and Grant Macdonald Ltd. To learn more about Bishopsland Educational Trust, please follow the links to their website and Instagram below.