[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”intr Text ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”41px||36px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”19px||12px|18px|false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]
thoughts for the FUTURE
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”future HS” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”41px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”19px||12px|18px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
The HANDSHAKE Project has been active since 2011, supporting emerging jewellers through mentorship, international exchange, exhibitions, and professional development. Our most recent project took place in March 2026 at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, where HANDSHAKE was invited to participate in the museum’s centenary celebrations as part of the 1st International Summit of Jewellery Classes — a gathering of world leaders in jewellery education. Our alumni presentation, Aotearoa Exchange, received outstanding feedback and affirmed HANDSHAKE’s international standing.
With recent changes in New Zealand’s jewellery education sector, including fewer tertiary providers and smaller graduating cohorts, we are temporarily pausing the programme. HANDSHAKE will remain shelved until the remaining jewellery education providers are able to deliver a strong pool of emerging artists suitable for a new intake.
This pause is not an ending — it is a reset. When conditions improve and there is once again a robust cohort of graduates ready for a programme of this scale and intensity, HANDSHAKE will return with renewed energy and purpose. The professional development of the jewellery cohort will continue. Each year, Makers 101 and our partner organisations deliver projects, developments, workshops and exhibitions that provide ongoing opportunities for the jewellery network to participate, grow and stay connected. These initiatives ensure that the wider community remains active and supported while HANDSHAKE is on pause.
More information about current activities and opportunities can be found on the Aotearoa Jewellery website: aotearoajewellery.org.nz.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”text in overview” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”-30px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”19px||12px|18px|false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]
Professional Development Initiatives for Aotearoa Jewellery Artists (article of Peter Deckers about the HS project in Leaflet #5)
Since 2011, M101 has led a series of professional development initiatives for contemporary jewellery artists in Aotearoa New Zealand, most notably the internationally recognised Handshake Project. Conceived as a practical master’s framework, Handshake offered emerging artists high-profile learning through sustained mentorship, coaching, and exhibition opportunities—bridging the gap between formal education and independent practice. The Handshake Project could only exist through the generous support of Creative New Zealand and the many volunteers who have contributed their time, knowledge, and care over the years.
In the wake of COVID-19, the New Zealand art education landscape has suffered significant setbacks. The closure and contraction of tertiary programmes have disrupted the flow of talented graduates and weakened the infrastructure that supports rigorous artistic development. M101 advocates for a renewed vision: one that integrates historical awareness, conceptual inquiry, and technical learning into a robust and future-facing art education system. The viability of projects like Handshake depends on the presence of such institutions, which cultivate the foundational skills and critical thinking necessary for advanced practice.
In response to this shifting terrain, M101 has pivoted toward preservation and sector resilience. Current initiatives include the Aotearoa Jewellery Triennial, the Suter Jewellery Biennial (in collaboration with the Suter Art Gallery), Jewellery LAB (a year-long development programme in partnership with The National, Christchurch), and upcoming international and national exhibitions, and a few more smaller projects.
These projects are supported by a mentor programme and a lecture series featuring international speakers, designed to foster dialogue, visibility, and excellence within the field.
While the Handshake Project is temporarily paused, M101 remains committed to nurturing the next generation of contemporary jewellers. Its future depends on the emergence of a renewed educational vision—one that restores momentum, affirms artistic value, and builds pathways for meaningful, context-rich practice in Aotearoa.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” button_text=”Aotearoa Jewellery website” button_url=”aotearoajewellery.org.nz” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_text_size=”20px” button_bg_color=”rgba(56,56,56,0.84)” button_bg_enable_color=”on”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ disabled_on=”off|on|on” admin_label=”PC bottom ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_module=”198965″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https://www.handshakeproject.com/home/exhibition-news/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=” exhibition news” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”33px” button_bg_color=”#212121″ button_border_width=”9px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_radius__hover=”5″ button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”10″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#000000″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https://handshakeproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Handshake-Project-overview-of-all-projects-latest-update-15-Feb.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”ALL HS projects” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”All HS projects, pdf” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”33px” button_bg_color=”#212121″ button_border_width=”9px” button_text_color_hover=”#ffffff” button_border_radius_hover=”4″ button_letter_spacing_hover=”9″ button_bg_color_hover=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_radius__hover=”5″ button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”10″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#000000″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https://handshakeproject.com/past-exhibitions/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=” exhibition archive” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”33px” button_bg_color=”#212121″ button_border_width=”9px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_radius__hover=”5″ button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”10″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#000000″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]
HANDSHAKE is funded by CNZ and organised by Makers 101
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]