Nelson Jewellery Week at the Refinery and beyond...

It's safe to say that Nelson Jewellery Week has been a smash! It has been a privilege working with the Contemporary Jewellery community this week, who as a tribe seem to show a particular generosity of spirit and collegial support for each other and the arts community.  Helping to celebrate 10 years of The Handshake Project, brain child of Peter Deckers and Hilda Gascard, has been a privilege. Handshake Project is a mentoring programme which partners established contemporary jewellers with emerging jewellers and provides support and a 'handshake' collaboration which results in an exhibition or activity. Handshake Project is known and has travelled around the world and we are very fortunate to have been part of their story. Their legacy in Nelson has been our first Nelson Jewellery Week in which several Nelson galleries and venues have presented Contemporary Jewellery in exhibition or in talk or in an activity and Nelson has responded with enthusiasm and delight. From the divine collaboration of Exquisite Corpse, Project 21 at 18A Project Space, Vanguard St, to Badgers making Badges it has been a treat and one we hope to continue. Art's Council Nelson was proud to present Nelson Jewellery Week and we hope that it is the first of many. Thank you to Mark Heathfield for these photographs. Here are the links to more pictures of the first couple of days...
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0g5ON9t3nJL96
​https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0gJ0DiRHGZGRFw