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A 10-year alliance has also begun to address the shortage of bench jewelers through scholarships, enhanced programs, and updated equipment.
Jewelers Mutual’s $10 million donation to the Savannah College of Art and Design is the most substantial financial contribution to the college’s jewelry program to date, said Jewelers Mutual.
Neenah. Wisc.—Jewelers Mutual Group (JM) has partnered with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to support bench jeweler education through a $10 million donation and a 10-year alliance.
The industry-academic collaboration will focus on developing the next generation of jewelry artisans and innovators through the most substantial financial contribution to date for SCAD’s jewelry program, said JM.
The two are addressing the critical replacement shortage of bench jewelers as retirements are outpacing new talent, and an estimated 4,000 jewelers are needed annually to maintain capacity, said JM.
According to a recent workforce study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, more than 70 percent of jewelers plan to hire bench jewelers and struggle to find qualified candidates.
The collaboration aims to address the gap by aligning education with real-world techniques, tools, and training needed to prepare the next generation of bench jewelers.
“Supporting the future of the jewelry industry means investing in the people who will sustain it,” said Scott Murphy, chief executive officer at JM.
“We are committed to helping close the bench jeweler talent gap by supporting education that prepares students for real-world careers and strengthens the industry for generations to come.”
Over the next decade, the $10 million will support several key initiatives to address the shortage of bench jeweler talent in the industry, including scholarships, enhanced academic programming, and updates to jewelry-making technology and equipment, as well as a naming gift to SCAD’s jewelry building.
Scholarship opportunities will be expanded through the Bench Education Endowment scholarship—supported by both JM’s Impact Fund and industry donors—to attract and serve more students pursuing bench jeweler careers.
The endowment, shortened to B.E.E., is also a nod to SCAD’s bee mascot.
There will also be collaborations with industry organizations to enhance and complement existing jewelry program offerings and an ongoing dialogue between industry leaders and SCAD faculty to ensure training reflects current commercial techniques and technologies.
Students will also be given the opportunity to connect with retailers, manufacturers, and designers through internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and hiring.
Overall, the program encourages early industry engagement to boost interest, highlight career options, and ease the move from education to employment, said JM.
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The industry-academic collaboration will focus on developing the next generation of jewelry artisans and innovators through the most substantial financial contribution to date for SCAD’s jewelry program, said JM.
The two are addressing the critical replacement shortage of bench jewelers as retirements are outpacing new talent, and an estimated 4,000 jewelers are needed annually to maintain capacity, said JM.
According to a recent workforce study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, more than 70 percent of jewelers plan to hire bench jewelers and struggle to find qualified candidates.
The collaboration aims to address the gap by aligning education with real-world techniques, tools, and training needed to prepare the next generation of bench jewelers.
“Supporting the future of the jewelry industry means investing in the people who will sustain it,” said Scott Murphy, chief executive officer at JM.
“We are committed to helping close the bench jeweler talent gap by supporting education that prepares students for real-world careers and strengthens the industry for generations to come.”
Over the next decade, the $10 million will support several key initiatives to address the shortage of bench jeweler talent in the industry, including scholarships, enhanced academic programming, and updates to jewelry-making technology and equipment, as well as a naming gift to SCAD’s jewelry building.
Scholarship opportunities will be expanded through the Bench Education Endowment scholarship—supported by both JM’s Impact Fund and industry donors—to attract and serve more students pursuing bench jeweler careers.
The endowment, shortened to B.E.E., is also a nod to SCAD’s bee mascot.
There will also be collaborations with industry organizations to enhance and complement existing jewelry program offerings and an ongoing dialogue between industry leaders and SCAD faculty to ensure training reflects current commercial techniques and technologies.
Students will also be given the opportunity to connect with retailers, manufacturers, and designers through internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and hiring.
Overall, the program encourages early industry engagement to boost interest, highlight career options, and ease the move from education to employment, said JM.
SCAD’s jewelry program is recognized as the largest and most comprehensive in North America, said JM.
The curriculum fuses the techniques of masterful bench craftsmanship and modern digital design to provide students with an immersive, hands-on education in every facet of jewelry creation.
Alumni from the program have gone to hold senior design and leadership positions at brands including Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, LVMH, John Hardy, Swarovski, and Kendra Scott.
JM said the goal of the alliance is to double SCAD’s jewelry program enrollment by 2030.
“The future of jewelry just got brighter, thanks to this historic partnership between SCAD and Jewelers Mutual, which promises to transform the lives of so many Bees—and the entire jewelry profession, now growing four times faster than any other luxury sector,” said Paula Wallace, president and founder of SCAD.
“The biggest and best jewelry design program on the planet is now even better: with more elite resources and scholarships and more SCAD brilliance in the talent pipeline. The jewelry industry is in very good hands!”
JM’s Impact Fund was established to support the jewelry industry and the communities where employees live and work through targeted initiatives and impact investments by intentionally investing in education, innovation, and workforce development, it said.
Visit JM’s website to learn more about its Impact Fund.
To learn more about ways to support bench jeweler education, visit SCAD’s website here and here to learn about its jewelry program.
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