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GEMZ
GEMZ is a talent accelerator programme initiated by Current Obsession (CO) in 2020 to support a new generation of young makers as they develop their voices. The main goals of GEMZ are to foster relationships between young creatives, cultural institutions, and the industry, as well as to build resilient, scalable, and sustainable individual practices or brands.
The name of the programme combines the definitions of ‘gem’ and ‘Generation Z’, a generation that offers a novel, multi-faceted perspective on the contemporary jewellery medium.
The programme is currently in its third cycle 2024-2025.
Phase 1: Exploration (October – December 2024) invites up to 57 participants to join online Q&A sessions with renowned practitioners who will share their experiences and insights. This phase aims to create a dynamic international community where participants can engage with past GEMZ alumni, the Current Obsession team, and a network of international professionals.
Phase 2: Development (January – March 2025) offers a series of online workshops focusing on practice development, covering topics such as profiling and positioning, origins and materiality, storytelling and communication, and representation and sales.
Phase 3: Production (April – June 2025) provides a select group with the opportunity to produce a multiple or capsule collection under the mentorship of the programme’s experts. The final creations will be showcased at the OBSESSED! Jewellery Festival 2025.
Furthermore, some participants may have the opportunity to collaborate with Current Obsession on an emerging representation platform currently under development.
During the two initial phases of the current cycle, GEMZ Talent Development Programme welcomes 57 artists from 23 different countries.
Grace Horton (AU), Militsa Milenkova (BG), Montserrat Fonseca Llach (CL), Tina Jiao (CN), Layla Yuanxing Lin (CN), Jingge Qu (CN), Jingyao Wang (CN), Shu Wang (CN), Ruochong Cheng (CN), Anna Liu (CN), Tiana Japp (CN), Anna Rusínová (CZ), Bette Nunneley (ENG), Sylver Eulalee Mair (ENG), Georgia Callan (ENG), Ève Chevara (FR), Nastassia Erhel (FR), Zoé Kiner-Wolff (FR), Constanze Chrosch (DE), Iva Coskun (DE), Lorena Rode (DE), Leandra Anschütz (DE), Franca Ullrich (DE), Lilli Malou Weinhold (DE), Melek Celik (DE), Luca Sági (HU), Júlia Somogyi (HU), Fanni Nagy (HU), Nava Avnit (IL), Naama Ben Porat (IL), Maya Shochat (IL), Martina Bucci (IT), Alice Biolo (IT), Urzula Volatovska (LV), Camila Gb (MX), Femke Vorselen (NL), Erik Lijzenga (NL), Thom van Schaik (NL), Stefan Boerkamp (NL), Shai Datauker (NL), Rose Pickernell (NZ), Max Walker (NZ), Mai Zarkawi (PS), Mariel Matute (PE), Minjeong Kim (KR), Meeree Lee (KR), Yasmin Knüsel (CH), Viktoriia Kresan (UA), Samantha Sloane (AE), Dermot Fowler (UK), Miles Robinson (UK), Kiah Bibby (UK), Myra Menon (US), Alexis Dixon (US), rae richards (US), Walter Mingledorff (US), Keith Murphy (US).