Mort Abelson Scholarship 2011

The Mort Abelson Scholarship honors Mort Abelson, who was instrumental in raising awareness of jewelry design and promoting jewelry designers in the U.S. As President of Jewelers of America from 1975-1977 and director until 1995, Mort oversaw the JA International Trade Show in New York and created the New Designer Gallery, which introduced hundreds of talented newcomers to the field. Many launched their careers through this program, including David Yurman, Esther Gallant, Whitney Boin, Diana Vincent, Steven Kretchmer, Eddie Sakamoto, Tom Kruskal, Penny Preville, and Alex Sepkus. Alan Revere, a preeminent jewelry educator and founder of Revere Academy in 1979, was selected as the scholarship site.

This contest is open to anyone in the United States and Canada. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid scholarship (air, lodging, tuition and fees) for a master class of their choice during the Academy's annual International Masters Symposium in April 2011 in San Francisco. The masters teaching include James Carter, John Cogswell, Naohiro Yamada, Michael Good, Kent Raible, Kate Wolf, Jack da Silva, Suzanne Pugh, and Alan Revere.

Applicants must submit 5 images of jewelry and 2 short essays of 100 words or less. Jurors Alan Revere and Cindy Edelstein will select the winner. Entry fee is $25.00. Applicants will be notified via email by November 16, 2010. The scholarship was funded by over 50 jewelry artists and designers who donated work to an auction held in 2007 to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the New Designer Gallery.