Columbia Gem House Supports Rising Makers In Partnership with the Nonprofit Nest
The Source Team is proud to share this post from our friends at Columbia Gem House. We are excited to see what beautiful designs jewelers come up with in the upcoming months in the next MJSA Design Challenge. Not only that, but funds from the pieces will be supporting a great cause.
The Source Team has received written permission to share this post and all images from Natasha Braunwart and the Columbia Gem House team.
Chloe Beaumont, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Coming this fall, Columbia Gem House will host its second annual Responsibly Sourced Design Auction & Fundraiser.
This year's auction beneficiary will be the nonprofit Nest, which supports the advancement and diversity of the artisan and maker economy. Funds from the auction will directly support Nest’s Jewelers United program.
The Auction & Fundraiser will take place in November 2022 on columbiagemhouse.com, and feature the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge jewelry pieces. Columbia Gem House has sponsored the MJSA Design Challenge for a number of years, but in 2021, expanded the project by inviting designers to physically create their designs.
Columbia Gem House donates all of the gemstones and one ounce of silver to help designers get started on their pieces. These one-of-a-kind designs will then be auctioned online, with all funds raised this year donated to Nest to sponsor an entrepreneur in their Jewelers United program.
Columbia Gem House stones donated for the challenge. Photo courtesy Columbia Gem House.
Nest is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) supporting the responsible growth and creative engagement of the artisan & maker economy to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. Their Jewelers United program is building a more vibrant makers movement across the United States by providing BIPOC jeweler entrepreneurs with the resources and market access opportunities they need to thrive.
Work from Jewelers United Alumni, Alaine Hutson of Social Justice Jewelry. Photo courtesy of Columbia Gem House.
With a focus on delivering innovative market access solutions to entrepreneurs who often face barriers to accessing the support they need, Jewelers United ensures that the growing American jeweler movement is generating opportunity for all makers regardless of gender, race, economic means, or ability.
Work from Jewelers United Alumni, Nashira Arno Studio. Photo courtesy of Columbia Gem House.
Follow the Project
To keep up to date with the Auction & Fundraiser event, follow @columbiagemhouse on Instagram or visit www.columbiagemhouse.com to sign up for their newsletter. In the coming months, Columbia Gem House will continue to share submitted designs as they are released by MJSA leading up to the auction.
Timeline
March – September 2022: MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge submissions are released
October 2022: Voting for the winning design takes place at www.mjsa.org
November 2022: Columbia Gem House Responsibly Sourced Design Auction & Fundraiser takes place at www.columbiagemhouse.com with all proceeds going to Nest to support the Jewelers United program.
To learn more about Nest and the Jewelers United Program, part of their Makers United initiative, visit www.buildanest.org. You can also view Columbia Gem House’s most recent interview with the Nest Team HERE.
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