Silver Week proves a gleaming success
ONE of Birmingham’s traditional industries attracted major interest when a new exhibition was opened to the public.
British Silver Week, being hosted at St Paul’s Gallery in the Jewellery Quarter, showcases some of the best artistic silversmiths working in Britain today.
The three-week exhibition offers the silversmiths the chance to sell their work and at the launch event representatives from the Birmingham Assay Office said interest in the pieces was high.
The gallery, the largest commercial art gallery in the UK outside London, is considered the ideal venue to stage such an event.
The Birmingham Assay Office has been the key facilitator in promoting British Silver Week event in Birmingham and successfully gained support from the Arts Council England and the National Lottery to enable the exhibition to go ahead.
The Birmingham Cultural Partnership, which comprises Birmingham City Council, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham City University School of Jewellery and The Birmingham Assay Office, used the event to announce the launch of a new silver commission.
Funded by the partnership, the commission, which is open to silversmiths working in Birmingham, is designed to reflect the history and heritage of the Jewellery Quarter.
Silversmiths exhibiting at the event are: Andrew Macgowan, Jemma Daniels, LJ Millington, Louise Chesshire, Theresa Nguyen, Mana Sarabhai Brearley, Mark Andrew Powell, Martyn Pugh, Wally Gilbert, Rachel Gogerly, Ryan McClean and the Precious Metal Clay Artists.
