AMCAW Grants & Awards Program

AMCAW is proud to announce our 2024 Grants & Awards Program. AMCAW developed this program to honor and recognize those who support the growth of our metal clay community. We are especially interested in supporting and encouraging those who help others advance their knowledge and skills as well as innovators who improve or create new products and methods available to metal clay artists everywhere.

AMCAW Grant Awards are available to members only; applications have now closed for 2024.

Grants & Awards of up to $500 are available in 3 categories:

Publications and MultiMedia

Do you spread the word and connect others to metal clay? We’d like to reward you for that! Spreading the word can take many forms: posting metal clay videos online; producing a metal clay podcast or online exhibition; writing articles about metal clay for a newsletter or for a magazine; authoring a book or exhibition catalog. If you’re doing any of these, you are working to promote metal clay and help educate others. Therefore, you are eligible for this award. Honoraria of up to $500 will be paid to selected applicants in 2024. This grant will be awarded to the most outstanding project. The selection process is not dependent on financial need.

Innovation in Metal Clay

Are you a tinkerer—improving and/or creating new tools, applications or methods? A mad scientist who loves experimenting with materials and processes? We want to encourage, recognize, and support innovators working to improve products and methods available to our community. This grant will be awarded to the most innovative project. The selection process is not dependent on financial need.

Honoraria of up to $500 will be paid to successful selected applicants in 2024.

Microgrants SINTER Registration Assistance

AMCAW Event Assistance

AMCAW has an exciting new virtual learning program, Metal Clay Live, coming in May 2025, and will waive the registration fee for a limited number of artists whose budget might not otherwise allow participation.

If you like the Grants & Awards Program as well as the work AMCAW does and would like to support us with a donation, please click here.

Website and Technology Committee

Develop and maintain the architecture and functionality of the website
Interpret the AMCAW brand for the website and digital newsletters
Create new sections, pages, and blog posts on the website as needed, working with the communications and other committees
Execute digital newsletter setup and distribution

Member Engagement Committee

Develop a strategy to nurture existing members ensuring retention and encouraging every member to become an AMCAW promoter
Grow membership through the provision of new initiatives, consistent promotion, and community engagement
Promote member benefits in dynamic ways and through diverse channels to increase the profile of AMCAW
Engage with worldwide metal clay influencers to encourage and promote membership benefits
Seek opportunities for AMCAW to be represented through online channels
Engage with the wider artistic community at conferences and other events, including those focused on metal clay as well as those representing other mediums or disciplines

Guild Support Committee

Create resources to help new guilds get started
Develop meeting topics and other tools to help existing guilds prosper
Create and test a virtual guild concept
Identify and foster connections between members who are interested in being in a guild

Finance Committee

Develop annual budgets to reflect organizational priorities.
Develop accounting systems and practices to provide financial support and guidance to the organization.
Assist and the support the Executive Board during annual audits.
Prepare all financial documents included submissions to state and federal authorities.

Fundraising Committee

Foster relationships to secure corporate sponsorships
Develop strategies to encourage private donations
Identify and apply for grant funding
Create other opportunities to raise funds, such raffles or auctions
Solicit giveaways for prizes and conference goody bags

Education Committee

Curate existing available resources and present the information so it’s useful and relevant for beginner, intermediate and advanced audiences
Create new educational content for artists of all levels
Develop challenges to push the community to stretch and grow
Generate tutorials and other educational content to be shared via trade media partners under the AMCAW banner
Develop educational content for newsletters, blogs, etc
Curate and create business development resources to help metal clay artists be successful in the business of teaching and selling their work
Develop metal clay curriculum resources for high school and university programs

Curating for Excellence Committee

Develop printed high-end juried publications
Facilitate juried online showcases
Seek opportunities for juried gallery and museum exhibits
Provide judging for challenges
Identify opportunities to provide jurors for non-AMCAW exhibits or publications

Conference Committee

Plan and execute high quality AMCAW conferences on a recurring basis
Ensure that the conferences have an international scope
Possibly provide support to regional conferences

Communications Committee

Create and share content and moderate discussion on social media platforms
Develop digital newsletter content for members and non-members
Generate blog content
Pursue opportunities to promote AMCAW via PR and trade media
Provide editing support to the entire organization to ensure consistent voice in our messages
Provide graphic support to the entire organization to ensure consistent branding of our materials
Provide marketing communications and strategy support for initiatives across the entire organization to ensure consistent messaging and branding

Advanced Studies Committee

The mission of this Committee is to support and engage members of the world-wide metal clay community by developing and implementing practical, hands-on educational programs, welcoming makers of all skill levels and perspectives, and providing guidance as they pursue a higher level of personal excellence.

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