PRESS RELEASE:
Press Office Contact: Laura
T: 020 7566 7658 E: laura.marcus@goldsmiths-centre.org
Released 25 April 2012
THE GOLDSMITHS’ CENTRE
Creativity – Craftsmanship – Community
Officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra April 25, 2012
The Goldsmiths’ Centre is a purpose-built development created by the Goldsmiths’ Company
serving as a hub for members of the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades, as well as for
the general public. After seven years in the making, this visionary initiative is now up and
running having been officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra on April 25, 2012.
This centre of excellence, which brings together like-minded people, as well as being a
catalyst for creativity, is located in the heart of London’s Clerkenwell, an area with a long
history of silversmithing and watchmaking. The new Centre provides workshop space,
conference facilities as well as a state-of-the-art venue for exhibitions and events. With an
on-site café, the Centre is destined to become a popular, thriving social hub and meeting
point.
The multi-faceted amenity is also home to the Goldsmiths’ Institute, a new high level training
and education facility available to professionals and students. This educational facility
provides a range of programmes designed to stimulate the interest and involvement of the
general public. For example there is a Pre-Apprentice course for young people who are
interested in pursuing a career as a goldsmith, plus a Post-graduate Professional Design
Programme concentrating on developing creative design-led goldsmithing businesses. In
addition there will be other specialist training opportunities for the wider industry.
Peter Taylor, Director of the Goldsmiths’ Centre, said: “This exciting new development is a
natural progression in the Goldsmiths’ Company 700 year history of serving and supporting
the industry by providing training and education. It marks the beginning of a new era and
provides inspiration for today by investing in tomorrow. The venue is designed to inspire
creativity and craftsmanship, a sustainable development that will be a source of knowledge
and skill today and for generations to come. In addition we hope the local community and
general public will also benefit from and enjoy this re-energised building which will live and
breathe creativity and craftsmanship.”
The Goldsmiths’ Centre represents the largest ever single investment (circa £17.5) million by
the Goldsmiths’ Company in support of the craft and industry. While it has long been an
ambition of the Company to create a home for the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades,
its instigation was also prompted by the issues currently facing education and training in this
area. Mr Martin Drury, Chairman of the Trustees of the Goldsmiths’ Centre, said: “The
Goldsmiths’ Company has more than 700 years of experience of providing vocational
training* and has designed the Centre to provide a unique range of high quality and relevant
education and training opportunities to meet the needs of aspiring young craftsmen in the 21st
century.”
THE GOLDSMITHS’ CENTRE:
The Goldsmiths’ Centre has been set up as a charitable enterprise with a specific purpose,
legally defined as: to advance, maintain and develop art, craft, design and artisan skills,
including in particular, but without limitation, those pertaining to goldsmithing.
This will be achieved by:
 Providing managed workspace for education and training for public benefit.
 Fostering, promoting and extending public interest in art, craft, design and artisan
skills
 Providing a spiritual home for those engaged or interested in these skills
At its core is the aim to help young people to enter skilled employment through vocational
training, in addition to nurturing an enduring community of like-minded individuals and
businesses from the industry and associated trades.
THE BUILDING:
The purpose built facility incorporates an existing Victorian grade II listed structure, one of
the first London Board Schools built in 1872. Architect John Lyall was challenged to
successfully and sympathetically combine a restoration project with a new build of a five
storey adjoining block. The new building, incorporating old and new materials, has been
designed as a contemporary addition that both contrasts and complements the existing school
building - a glazed atrium successfully joins the two elements. Heat and light are provided
by renewable energy, supplied by air-source heat pumps and photovoltaic cells.
Additionally there is a fine mounting workshop, a silversmithing workshop and tool room
areas, all housed on the ground floor of the Institute. A prototype workshop and technology
area on the first floor is available not only to the Institute’s trainees but also to the Centre’s
workshop occupants and others from the wider craft and industry.
THE GOLDSMITHS’ INSTITUTE:
The Institute provides opportunities for experienced craftspeople and those beginning their
careers. The courses offered benefit from access to the Goldsmiths’ Company’s unrivalled
knowledge-base and networks and the Institute will act as a springboard for a professional
and successful future career. In addition the Institute will be housed alongside established
businesses and consequently will be able to draw upon their knowledge, making it a unique
offering and unlike any other facility.
THE COURSES:
Getting Started:
This is a free, week-long course held every January for recent UK graduates of precious
metal and the allied trade courses. Delivered as a series of seminars and workshops, the
programme focuses on the next steps for those wishing to pursue a career within the industry.
The aim of the course is not to dictate any particular career route for recent graduates; instead
it provides an opportunity for attendees to review their options alongside a range of practical
help and guidance.
Foundation Apprenticeship Programme:
Due to recruit from April/May 2012, this new initiative will see the Institute providing high
quality technical training for young people aged between 16 and 19. Offering a broad range
of traditional skills, along with drawing and theory, the course will provide the attendees with
a solid introduction to the craft and industry. Ultimately the aspiration for these young
people is for them to secure meaningful careers in the industry.
Postgraduate Professional Design Programme:
The Postgraduate Professional Design programme is a year-long full-time course for up to
eight recent graduates. Through a mixture of practical design sessions, discussion and
presentations, this programme will educate, inspire and develop a new generation of designled creative businesses that can exploit the opportunities presented by a fast-moving global
marketplace.
Undergraduate Summer School:
Held every year in July this is a free, week-long course aimed at students about to enter their
final year of a degree course and is designed to widen the attendee’s perceptions of the
industry. It introduces the work of the Goldsmiths’ Company and challenges delegates to
improve their design philosophy and approach, whilst offering guidance on career paths. The
Summer School covers design practice, creativity, ideas generation, project work and case
studies through discussion, exploration and sketching as well as the exchange of ideas
between fellow delegates
All the courses take place in the state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces.
*THE GOLDSMITHS’ COMPANY APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME:
The Goldsmiths' Company has supported 'indentured' or contracted apprenticeships between
its Freemen and young people entering the industry as trainees since 1334. An
apprenticeship is an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience.
Today the Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice scheme enables a young person to receive
vocational training in a workshop environment under the instruction and guidance of an
experienced tutor (Master). Each apprentice is trained for up to five years, during which time
they are encouraged to take part in competitions such as the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design
Council Awards and UK and World Skills events. At the end of their training period
they produce a masterpiece and sign up for the Goldsmiths’ Award, a City & Guilds
Licentiateship (LCGI). The Licentiateship award is at a supervisory/junior management level
and mapped to level 4 on the National Qualification Framework (NQF). The final stage of the
Apprenticeship scheme is being granted the Freedom of the Goldsmiths’ Company and the
City of London.
From now on the new Goldsmiths’ Centre is going to take on the responsibility for the
operational management of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Apprenticeship scheme. There are
up to 24 apprentices at various stages of their training at any one time.
WORKSHOPS:
The Centre’s workshops provide the best possible environment and facilities for anyone
engaged in art, craft and design skills.
In total there are 15 custom-built workshops and 9 studios which are subject to a 5 year lease
(the starter studios are on an inclusive monthly license). The successful applicants chosen to
rent the workshops represent a balance of skill sets to ensure a supportive and collaborative
community. All the tenants have agreed to support this principle and are prepared to be proactive, as well contributing in-kind to the overall objectives of the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s
charitable workshop provision. Examples of in-kind contribution include teaching on the
pre-apprentice course, providing placement for an apprentice, delivering an annual masterclass, opening the workshop for tours or simply contributing articles.
In exchange those renting the workshops benefit from a genuine sense of community both
practically and emotionally, backed-up by the strong networking support group that
surrounds them.
CONFERENCE CENTRE AND EXHIBITION SPACE:
The Centre incorporates a series of four flexible conference and meeting rooms which can
accommodate up to 350 people. Providing intimacy on a grand scale, the events and
exhibition spaces combine a user-friendly environment with high quality facilities. The top
floor suite (The Agas Harding Suite**) has a bio-diversity roof garden and panoramic views
over Clerkenwell, a perfect setting for businesses and other organisations to hold conferences,
seminars and presentations, as well as formal dinners, receptions and product launches. With
seamless on-site catering and state-of-the-art technology, the Centre will offer smooth
running and successful events as well as stimulating interest in, and engagement with the
wider aims of the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
High on the list of the priorities of the Goldsmiths’ Centre is the ability to hold a regular
programme of fascinating exhibitions designed to nurture enjoyment, appreciation and
understanding of art, craft and design.
Conference and exhibition space at the Goldsmiths’ Centre is available to hire to outside
companies and individuals for events.
** named after Agas Harding, the woman who bequeathed land to the Goldsmiths’ Company
in 1514. Recent development of the land, now known as New Street Square generated the
£17.5 million used to finance the new Centre.
THE CAFÉ:
The Bench, the in-house Café operated by Ampersand, is designed to sustain the Goldsmiths’
Centre providing an environment where students, workshop inhabitants and the Centre staff
can relax and exchange ideas. The fully licensed Café is open from 8.00am to 6.00pm and is
also available for members of the public who want to enjoy good food and drink surrounded
by the buzz of a flourishing creative community.
GOLDSMITHS’ CENTRE PERSONNEL:
Centre Director
Postgraduate Programme Director
Centre PA/Office Manager
Facilities Manager
Exhibitions & Events Manager
Vocational Skills Director
Technician Demonstrator
Institute Administrator
Receptionist
Facilities Assistant
Peter Taylor
Dr Stuart Devlin
Marie Marshall
Andrew Birks
Ruth Moir
Robin Kyte
Kevin Wilson
Helen Dobson
Tracy Dessoy
Darren Levene
More information about the Goldsmiths’ Centre and the building can be found at:
www.goldsmiths-centre.org
The Goldsmiths’ Centre
42 Britton Street
Clerkenwell
London
EC1M 5AD
Tel: 020 7566 7650
For further information and images please contact:
Amanda Stücklin, the Goldsmiths’ Company, Tel: 020 7367 5913
Email: Amanda.stucklin@thegoldsmiths.co.uk
www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk