UPSKILL workshop NELSON:

OPEN CALL 

Upskill workshop: (online and at Te Pukenga NMIT, Nelson) as part of the NJW workshop programme:

This UPSKILL workshop is specifically designed for up-and-coming jewellers who want to advance their craft. The workshop will include a series of online sessions and two hands-on workshop days at Te Pukenga NMIT Polytechnic during Nelson Jewellery Week.

APPLICATION:  The NJW 2025 programme, launched on November 21, will include details on how to express your interest. To apply, submit a brief PDF portfolio along with an artist statement. Tutor and mentor Peter Deckers will select eight participants for the workshop, which will run from February to June 2025. The sessions will be tailored to each participant’s skill level and experience, providing direct feedback during the workshop days, as well as through Zoom calls and email. Additionally, zoom lectures will cover contextual, conceptual, technical, and presentation theories.

Course Description:

Each participant sets their home learning objectives and technical goals. The tutor designs a personalised programme to support these objectives and goals within the workshop duration, which includes assignments for additional practice in participants’ home workshops. Between February to June, monthly group and individual coaching sessions will be conducted via Zoom. These sessions will include lectures on current practices, featuring Peter Deckers’ practice, with discussions about current issues and challenges.

Practical and Theory workshop components (Feb – June 2025):

• Session 1 (13 Feb Zoom): Those selected are provided with a set of questions that will be discussed online. The tutor set tasks for the Nelson Workshop and the rest of the sessions.
• Session 2 (TBC: last week of March will be for individual Zoom sessions): personal session related to the homework tasks that will start in the participant’s home workshop and finish in Nelson at the NMIT workshop in April.
• Session 3 (14 April, at Te Pukenga NMIT, during NJW): Hands-on workshops and practical/ technical skills demonstrations and continue the technical challenge
• Session 4 1(15 April, at Te Pukenga NMIT, during NJW): Hands-on workshops and practical/ technical skills demonstrations and finish the technical challenge. Discussion of homework tasks.
• Session 5 (8 May Zoom) Online lecture and feedback sessions on home tasks with the group.
• Session 6 (5 June Zoom): Online lectures and feedback

Notes:

– Zoom catch-up/coaching/mentoring sessions will be held monthly from Feb to June. Participants can request an additional personal session each month, and/or communicate via email and text.

– Participants are responsible for organising their own transportation and accommodation for the two workshop days in Nelson.

Application:

– A portfolio contains an artist statement (in the first person) of up to 200 words, at least 5 photos of your latest work and a short bio about your study and art practice.

Homework Tasks:

– Tailored practical and conceptual assignments will be given to participants to work on in their home workshop and during the two Te Pukenga NMIT workshop days. These assignments should align with their artistic objectives and goals.

Expectations:

– We expect each participant to invest a minimum of 5 hours a week of their time and resources to benefit from this workshop fully.

Payment:

Once the applicant’s application is accepted, the NJW organisation will arrange for the payment of $600.

Notes from Peter Deckers (workshop coordinator and tutor):

Jewellery making has been my passion and practice since 1975. The journey began with technical education at MTS Vakschool in the Netherlands, followed by fine art studies at Elam, Auckland. The experience includes apprenticeships in a Nepali street workshop, a Dutch repair workshop, a high-street jeweller and in an artist gallery-studio, and over 40 years in my own home studio.

In addition to being a self-employed/freelance jewellery artist, tutoring for over 30 years has been my other passion, sharing my skills to students. Reaching the desired skill level in students has often been challenging due to time constraints and the pressure of comprehensive curricula, not only at Whitireia but also at other art schools in New Zealand. Basic knowledge and skills have become common challenges for graduates. The UPSKILL workshop aims to accelerate rapid learning to address these gaps.

Guiding the younger generation in honing their technical skills and sharing extensive knowledge is a real privilege. The successful 2024 UPSKILL pilot programme, which blended online and in-person teaching, has inspired further enhancement of these type of workshops. Customised exercises will accommodate various skill levels and interests, providing alternative educational pathways for emerging learners. While YouTube can introduce techniques, true learning comes from hands-on practice combined with insightful feedback.

For more infomation about Peter Deckers see: https://aotearoajewellery.org.nz/peter-deckers-