The Handshake Project is currently in a period of dormancy. Following the completion of Aotearoa Exchange, presented at SCHMUCK Munich 2026, the programme has been placed on hold while the cultural, educational, and institutional landscape continues to evolve. Handshake was built around active engagement with tertiary art and jewellery programmes, and future activity will depend on the availability of emerging graduate candidates and suitable educational partnerships.

The final Handshake initiative, Aotearoa Exchange, brought together artists connected through a shared history of peer learning, international exchange, and artist-led practice. Presented at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, the project celebrated more than a decade of collaboration, mobility, and cross-cultural dialogue.

For more information about this project, visit the Aotearoa Exchange page.

Makers 101

While Handshake is currently shelved, Makers 101 (M101) continues to develop and support strategic initiatives for the contemporary jewellery and object sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.

With support from Creative New Zealand, M101 delivers projects, professional development opportunities, research initiatives, sector partnerships, and public programmes that strengthen the visibility, capability, and sustainability of jewellery practice.

Current and ongoing initiatives include:

• Jewellery LAB
• The Suter Jewellery Biennial
• Organisation and development of national and international exhibitions
• The Aotearoa Jewellery Triennial
• Project 100 Presentation Project
• Professional development programmes
• Lecture series and public talks
• Masterclasses and sector training initiatives
• Research and development projects supporting artists and organisations