The international mentor and exhibition HANDSHAKE project (HS1) will continue with a new cumulative two-year project for NZ jewellery makers. The purpose of the new HANDSHAKE 2 (HS2) is to provide opportunities for professional growth within the context of innovative art jewellery, studio and exhibition practice through the use of new communication technologies (eg Skype and email) and national and international exhibitions.

This call is open for those artists who are able to commit and want to refresh or accelerate their jewellery art practice with international impact, professionalism and focus (see timeline and its activities). Preference will be for those with successful degree study in visual arts and/or an extensive exhibition practice.  Those enrolled for study, or planning to enrol for study, are not eligible to apply.  Those who have participated in the HANDSHAKE 1 (HS1) project are ineligible for HS2.

Selections will be made by a specialist panel consisting of international and New Zealand experts in the field.  Their selection will be final and cannot be challenged.

The application will contain:

-          an electronic PDF portfolio of your recent work with captions/descriptions (in email as attachment and not more than 9Mgb, in Dropbox, and/or via a personal blog),

-          a short statement of intent (“Why do you need a mentor?” “What would you like to get out of this mentorship and exhibition program?”),

-          three consecutive choices of your possible hero-mentor (these can be selected across all media, either nationally or internationally) with short explanations for each chosen mentor and their contact details,

-          a short CV/ bio with hyperlinks and your contact details.

The HS selectors will contact your nominated mentors to gauge their interest in your work and in the two-year mentoring program. Each mentor will be paid a mentor fee which is connected to a negotiated and committed time schedule.  On that agreement the selection can be finalised.

Note: for 2016 ‘the best of HANDSHAKES’ (HS3) will be developed, where participants from both HS projects (version 1 and version 2) will be selected for an international exhibition, as well as selected to participate in a jewellery exhibition organised by the Dowse Art Museum, with a catalogue to accompany the exhibitions.

Conditions for HANDSHAKE 2 participation:

Mentee must be a New Zealand citizen or NZ permanent resident and reside in NZ.

Committed to a two-year mentor and exhibition programme (HS2:  2014-2015) and be available for selection for ‘the Best of Handshakes’ (HS3: 2016).

Committed to two annual Jewelcamp weekends (April 2014 and Feb 2015).

Committed to a Masterclass week (Feb 2015).

Committed to participate to selected tasks; eg presentations and discussions at Jewelcamp, fundraising for mentees (eg for travel costs), exhibition set-ups, promotion and publications.

Committed to contributing to development, exploration and making edits for the HS blog on regular agreed basis.

Committed to the development and placement on the HS blog of a personal on-line exhibition.

Committed to the recording of high resolution photography for the blog and publications.

Be proactive in maintaining communications with mentor and organisers.

Committed to cover particular costs; like materials, electronic communication devices and their service, travel costs to the masterclass and 2 Jewelcamps, sending costs to exhibitions, availability for exhibition set-up and openings.

The Handshake organisation (Makers 101 Ltd) pays for the arranged mentor fees, exhibition rents, exhibition opening costs, catalogue print, fees for the two Jewelcamps and Masterclass intensive week.

Send the application to: handshakeproject@xtra.co.nz

Timeline (subject to change):

Oct 2013: Entries open for HANDSHAKE 2

20 Jan 2014: Entries Close

Feb 2014: Shortlist compiled

Feb 2014: Mentors approached and contracted

March 2014: Final list confirmed and invitation to participate issued

Sat 26 April 2014: start of HS2: Jewelcamp1 weekend in Wellington (confirmed)

First series of mentor sessions commence (minimum 10)

Dec 2014: First Exhibition (Toi P?neke, Wellington)

Feb 2015: Jewelcamp2 (weekend) and super tutor masterclass with Suska Mackert (5 days)

Second series of mentor sessions commence (minimum 6)

Aug 2015: International exhibition

Dec 2015: End Exhibition

Selection for 2016 HANDSHAKE 3 (selected from those involved in HS1 and HS2 only)                                                                                                                             Feb 2016: Jewelcamp3 (1 day) and masterclass (week long) with Hilde de Decker                                                                       National /international exhibition(s), publication

More detail about mentee, mentor, national and international exhibitions, HS blog, publications to follow.