Resources | Education and Training
- Ingrid Valou
- Jun 6, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 27
The purpose of this resource page is to provide a very brief overview of some of the schooling and training resources available to those interested in learning more about metalsmithing and jewellery arts.
On this page (& quick links for navigation):
There are many different pathways into the metal arts, jewellery design and goldsmithing world.
Those working and creating in the jewellery industry may arrive from fine arts or design backgrounds, from bench jeweller or repair apprenticeships, via traditional goldsmithing training, through a la carte workshop education, online videos and tutorials – or some combination of all. Whether you're completely new to jewellery making or metal arts, considering a career path in the jewellery arts world, or seeking professional development, there are many resources at your fingertips.
Please note that this page is not in and of itself meant to be an endorsement or recommendation. Please do your own research, seek out the testimonials of graduates or past students, and consider your goals, your budget and your needs.
Local Certificate & Diploma Programs in Jewellery Design in Metro Vancouver and British Columbia
These local institutions teach an overview of basic principles in jewellery design and metalsmithing. No prior experience is necessary, although some institutions may require a portfolio. People who would like the experience of learning elementary principles of metalsmithing and design in a classroom environment alongside a cohort may want to look into this.
LaSalle
Vancouver Community College
NEC Native Education College (open to Indigenous students)
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Local Jewellery-making and Metalsmithing Workshops
For those looking to pursue their interests in jewellery-making more as a hobby or gradually build their own education
Mountain Gems (Burnaby) – offers all manner of jewellery classes in the a la carte style, including basic silversmithing, stone-setting, keum boo, lost wax casting, lapidary, and surface finishing techniques (patination, etc.)
Juvelisto (Richmond) – an array of classes for the individual hobbyist, the engaged couple, or even small parties of people, including basic fabrication, stone-setting, and lost wax casting. Bench rentals also available.
Langara College (Vancouver) – occasionally offers jewellery-making night classes and studio drop-ins
Soigne (Vancouver) – offers dozens of classes in jewellery-making in traditional and alternate materials, including macrame, coin rings, felting, polymer, and resin.
MakerLabs (Vancouver) – MakerLabs' MetalLab classes are geared towards people who want to work with with non-precious metals (we're talking welding and smithing ferrous metals)
Fraser River Forge (Vancouver) – Fraser River Forge is a German-Canadian blacksmith shop with a focus on traditional hand forging and fabrication
Stairway Studio (Victoria) - Stairway Studio teaches classes in basic to intermediate silversmithing, fabrication and stone setting to both the casual and serious learners. Bench rentals and supervised project drop-ins are also available.
Leading Jewellery and Metal Arts Institutions Across Canada
Those interested in achieving a university degree alongside their jewellery education may be interested in the OCAD University or NSCAD University programs. The Ecole de Joaillerie de Montreal is one of Canada's only schools specializing in jewellery, and covers jewellery techniques as well as gemology, lapidary art and design. It also teaches and hosts masterclasses tailored to the professional jewellers' community.
Four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts/Bachelor of Design in Material Art & Design program
Master of Fine Arts in Studio
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing
Visual Arts Certificate in Studio, Jewellery
Minor in Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing
Various programs and intensives
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A note of regret and acknowledgement for George Brown College (Greater Toronto Area, Ontario), which offered an excellent three-year diploma for jewellery education.
World-Renowned Training Centres for Bench Skills in USA
Jewellers and metal artists seeking additional professional development and skills improvements may consider the following intensives if they deem it advisable to travel:
New Approach School for Jewelers (Arrington, Tennessee)
Led by Blaine Lewis, New Approach is famous for its three-month intensive bench jewellers programs, which teach everything from stone setting to chain repair and setting fabrication. Well-regarded by the jewellery industry, many graduates have found positions in the jewellery trade upon graduation
GRS Training Center (Emporia, Kansas)
owned and operated by industry giants Glendo Corporation (which manufactures and distributes leading-edge equipment for the jewellery industry) specializes in beginner intensives and masterclasses in engraving, inlay, scrollwork design and stone setting for all levels. Some of the higher-level courses are led by masters in their respective fields, and all students are taught on cutting-edge equipment
Notable Schools of Art and Craft in USA (workshops & residencies)
Artists and craftspeople with an interest in traditional metalsmithing and surface treatment techniques, such as enamelling, chasing and repousse, and hollowware, may wish to investigate residencies and workshops at schools of craft known with metals streams. Some offer online courses; others offer multi-week pay-to-play residencies; others offer invitation-only artist retreats. Some also provide fully supported artist-in-residence programs and scholarships.
The primary benefit many artists travelling and participating in these residencies is to expand your network, to find like-minded people and community, and to explore new techniques. If applying for a longer-term residency or opportunity, please be sure to consider visa logistics.
Pratt Fine Arts Center (Seattle, Washington)
This centre is worth mentioning solely for its proximity of Vancouver. It also offers art classes where beginners and established professionals can learn and advance techniques in blacksmithing, metals, and other jewellery techniques. Throughout the year they provide workshops on beginner metalsmithing, knife-making, damascus and pattern-welded steel, and elementary jewellery techniques like stone setting, hollowware, and engraving.
Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft (Columbia, North Carolina)
Pocosin has a well-equipped jewellery and metals studio, but is one of the schools with an increasing presence from Vancouver- and B.C.-based instructors in its online courses. In addition to online classes that feature enamel, fabrication, clasp-making, and similar techniques, it also has an extensive offering of in-studio metals and jewellery education with leading instructors.
Penland School of Craft (Bakersville, North Carolina)
Penland School of Craft is a renowned centre for the preservation of traditional craft. Its instructors and alumni have contributed to the development of the contemporary metals field. It has workshops in ferrous and nonferrous metals, but artisans of printmaking, ceramics, glass, textiles, photography, and bookbinding will also find it of interest. It offers several residency and fellowship programs ranging from two-week winter residencies. It offers online and in-person workshops (filter for "metals" or "iron" and in person or online).
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
Arrowmont is well-known for its immersive, supportive and well-programmed residencies and campus living, as well as for its beautiful studios. Arrowmont usually offers workshops in diverse techniques such as powder coating, advanced enamelling techniques (champleve, cloisonne, etc.), casting, textile techniques in metal, and even metal spinning. Its forging room is well-stocked with stakes and hammers for forging complex forms.
Peters Valley School of Craft (Layton, New Jersey)
Peters Valley offers studio-based educational workshops in Fine Metal & Jewellery as well as Blacksmithing. They offer boarding and meals for those participating in in-person learning, and offer sought-after education in both online and in-person formats.
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (Deer Isle, Maine)
Haystack offers summer workshops of one to three weeks in blacksmithing, clay, fibers, glass, graphics, (nonferrous) metals, and wood. Workshops are taught by visiting professors and recognized artists and craftspeople from around the country. Haystack also operates an annual two-week interdisciplinary artist residency during which artists may move among studios and receive technical assistance.
Baltimore Jewelry Centre (Baltimore, Maryland)
The Baltimore Jewelry Center is an educational non-profit on a mission to build a vibrant creative community for the study and practice of metalsmithing and art jewelry. They offer one- and three-month supportive artist residencies for both emerging and mid-career artists.
Well-respected Online Academies
While some people prefer structured in-person learning, including studios where all you have to bring are hand tools there are some for whom online learning and improvement (and the ability to build/fund/furnish their own studio) is a better fit. As of the writing of this article, a select couple of forerunners have emerged to serve the latter demographic.
Lucy Walker Jewellery Academy (subscription schooling)
Lucy Walker uses a simple roadmap of skill-building courses to guide aspiring metalsmith and jewellery designers with phenomenally produced videos for fabrication (soldering, shaping, etc.) and stonesetting. Please note that prospective students may be required to join a waiting list..
Peter Keep's Jewellery Training Solutions (subscription and ability to purchase individual courses)
Peter's extensive video library features numerous painstakingly curated apprenticeship programs. His projects teach anything from fabrication, goldsmithing, stonesetting and mount-making.
Those interested should checking out their YouTube channels to preview video quality and teaching style.
Join a global community of jewellers and makers
Here are some great groups and forums to join or follow, along with some integral resources on safety. While online communities can be amazing for troubleshooting issues with peers, please remember that forums do not serve as a viable alternative to a proper foundational education, whether that be through workshops, resources or otherwise.
Online Forums (For Tips and Community)
– Engraver’s Cafe | engraverscafe.com (forum)
Resources & Learning Centres
– Ganoksin Orchid (learning centre) | orchid.ganoksin.com (forum)
– Rio Grande Resource Centre | Safety Data Sheets
– Stuller | the basics of jewellery design (download)
YouTube Channels for beginners
As a final bonus (for making it all the way through this list), here is a small selection of the popular jewellery-making YouTube channels that act as gateway resources into what goes on at the bench.
– At the Bench (Andrew Berry)
– Jewellery Training Solutions (Peter Keep)
We hope this article was helpful in giving you a quick overview of the resources available. We'll update this periodically, so let us know if you feel there has been a glaring omission in this list!
Updated April 27, 2025