The Radical Jewelry Makeover Rejewelry Competition 2026

Through this Call for Entry, we want to invite newcomers into our RJM community and welcome back past participants to activate a circular supply chain of materials. During our frequent RJM Installments, we collect donations of broken, unwanted, or out-of-date jewelry, and the Rejewelry Competition is a way to redistribute this material into the hands of makers.

How it Works
The juror-selected applicants can purchase RJM donation materials through a private RJM Shop to create a suite of jewelry that will exhibit for one year in a traveling exhibition (3 exhibitions). Materials available in the shop include a sweeping range from fine materials (gold, silver, gemstones) to costume jewelry (plastics, pot metal, wood, rubber, etc.).

Works created in the competition will be available for purchase in the online RJM Store between the exhibitions. 

*All competition works will be available for purchase during the exhibitions and online. Artists will receive the standard 50% of any sales made.


Important Competition dates:

• Sept 15 - Nov 30: Application period.
• Feb 1: Jurors select the new Rejewlery cohort.
• Feb 1 - March 1: Private RJM Shop opens for cohort.
• *Materials mailed 5 business days from purchase.
• Feb - May: Applicants create a suite of jewelry
• May 1: All completed works must arrive to RJM Headquarters
• June 2026: Works begin traveling showcase, three exhibitions.

Jury: 
- Heidi Lowe: Heidi Lowe comes from a family of artists, where she was surrounded by quality art supplies, and being creative was encouraged. Heidi started her first jewelry company at age 13 where she created earrings and sold them to shops on Rehoboth Avenue. When Heidi made her first silver ring in high school, she knew she would study metals and jewelry in college. Heidi attended the Maine College of Art and then earned a master’s degree in Metals and Jewelry from the State University of NY - New Paltz. Heidi opened her namesake jewelry gallery, Heidi Lowe Gallery, in 2006 where she exhibits her one-of-a-kind jewels as well the works of 25 artists from around the country.

- Jessica Armstrong: Jessica Armstrong is not only a trained contemporary art jeweler, but also the Owner of Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry in Chicago, Illinois. Jessica received her MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and has continued her education at various institutions by taking workshops. Armstrong’s work has been featured both internationally and throughout the United States. 

- Shane Prada: Shane Prada began her career working in education in 2004, first as a Teach For America corps member and then as a cofounder of one of the first charter schools in Baltimore city. In 2010, Shane began taking evening classes at the MICA Jewelry Center and fell in love with art jewelry and metalsmithing. In the fall of 2012, MICA announced that it would discontinue the 22-year old Jewelry Center program in 2014. In the spring of 2013, a leadership team comprised of the core faculty and three students from the program was formed. Shane took the lead as the team created a new organization, the Baltimore Jewelry Center.


Eligibility

• All jewelers are welcome to apply. 
• International participants (those outside the USA) are welcome but should note, they will purchase their post-consumer materials through local secondary markets as the carbon footprint of shipping RJM materials internationally is in conflict with the mission and ethics of RJM.

Requirements for Application Review.

• Payment of the $30 application fee and submission of all application materials.
• 5 images (with up to 5 additional detail images) of current works, a statement about your work, and basic contact information.

How to Pay Application Fee
Click the link . You will be brought to the Community for Ethical Jewelry webpage (formerly Ethical Metalsmiths).
Enter $30 as your contribution.
In Additional Information, note Rejewelry.


FAQ's: https://www.radicaljewelrymakeover.org/rejewelry-call-for-entry

More information: https://www.radicaljewelrymakeover.org/rejewelry-competition

Check here the 2023 edition: https://www.radicaljewelrymakeover.org/rejewelry-2023