Open Call for the for the 2027 Linda Peshkin Solo Exhibition Award

Amount of Grant:

• An award in the amount of $20,000 to be paid over two years ($10,000 at the beginning of the project and $10,000 at the completion of the project, but the frequency and amount of each payment can be adjusted to the project).
• All monies must be used for the implementation of the project.
• Artist will be responsible for taxes and payments to subcontractors.
• Every 6 months, the artist must provide an update (one page maximum) on project progress and how grant monies are spent.

Note: The funds can be used to pay for previously incurred expenses if directly related to the project presented (example: materials already purchased, research, etc.).


Entry Criteria:

• Professionals in the art jewelry field of any age and career phase are eligible.
• Students currently enrolled in a degree program are not eligible (except PhD students).
• PhD students are eligible but not with exhibitions related to their academic or thesis work.
• Applications from recent graduates and for first solo show are encouraged.
• Professional staff and board members of AJF are not eligible to apply.

Proposal Guidelines:
The proposed exhibition must be about jewelry, loosely defined as: 

• worn on the body or enhances the body in some way.
• may utilize jewelry forms and/or history.
• all materials considered.
• The proposed exhibition must be realized within a two-year time frame (for 2027 edition, that means by December 2029).
• The proposed exhibition must be shown at a gallery or other exhibition venue.
• The proposal must include a letter from the proposed gallery or venue, stating that it agrees to show the exhibition if the proposal wins the award.
• The proposed exhibition must include a final critical/curatorial text.
• The proposed exhibition must include a catalog/booklet (to be added to AJF’s online library).

Jurors:
The jury will consist of three distinguished specialists in the field of art jewelry, selected by Art Jewelry Forum. The winner of the award is expected to serve as one of the jurors in the next edition.

The jurors for 2027 are Bella Neyman (US), Jorge Manilla (MX/BE/NO), and Geraldine Fenn (ZA), the winner of the 2025 award.

Applications must be received by 11:59 pm Mountain Standard Time (Denver, Colorado, US) on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Incomplete entries will not be accepted.

  
Winner's Responsibilities:

• The winner will be announced to the audience at the Internationale Handwerksmesse, and the winning artist is expected to travel to Schmuck, in Munich, Germany, in March 2027 for the award presentation, where they will deliver a 10-minute presentation about their work. The artist will arrange travel at their own expense.
• Artist will be responsible for taxes and payments to subcontractors.
• Every 6 months, the artist must provide an update (one page maximum) on project progress and how grant monies are spent.
• The winner is expected to serve as a volunteer juror in the following grant cycle.

> Access to full details here