The value of jewellery often lies in its sentimental worth. Whether it’s your grandma’s engagement ring, or a treasured necklace bought to mark a wedding anniversary, jewellery often tells a heartfelt story. And now one community project, the Women’s Maker Movement, in Birmingham is tapping into this idea by providing a platform for migrant or refugee women to create jewellery, while simultaneously helping them to integrate into the city. Organised by Craftspace, a charity who create opportunities for people to make contemporary craft, the project aims to reduce isolation by bringing together women who are facing economic and social challenges. It’s hoped the creative outlet of jewellery-making will help these women gain skills and meet new people. We caught up with Deirdre Figueiredo, director of Craftspace, to find out more.
Women’s Maker Movement began because we at Craftspace incubate and support craft collective Shelanu – which means ‘belonging to us’ – and is a developing social enterprise of migrant and refugee women producing high quality craft objects inspired by their new home, the city of Birmingham. They make jewellery to sell and also share their creative skills with others in the local community. Shelanu has a very small jewellery studio so it’s difficult to engage with a lot of women onsite. Members of Shelanu facilitate nine-week jewellery making workshops, teaching different techniques using polymer clay. Each participant makes a collection of jewellery reflecting identity and place. They have a guided visit around Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to research and gather inspiration. They also have sessions introducing them to basic business skills with ‘show and tell’ talks from local women-led enterprise start-ups. At the end of each cycle of workshops, we hold a sharing event and display of the work for family, friends and the community in general to come and celebrate their achievements.