Silver Speaks at the Royal College of Art
The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre
Dyson Building
Royal College of Art
1 Hester Road
London SW11 4AN
Tickets: £16, £12 concessions
Silver Speaks at the Royal College of Art is a half-day public symposium celebrating silversmiths and their contribution to contemporary life at the Royal College of Art in Battersea
Silver Speaks is a programme of events created by Contemporary British Silversmiths to celebrate silver in contemporary life, in collaboration with the V&A and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and Arts Council England. This half-day symposium to be held in partnership with the Royal College of Art is designed to bring together silver practitioners, educators and enthusiasts to explore the role of silversmiths, their unique skill set and how they have helped shape British culture from the past to the present. Leading cultural commentators, designers and silversmiths will explore silversmiths’ contributions across craft and design practices.
Book Tickets:
This symposium is in partnership with the Royal College of Art and celebrates the 20th anniversary of Contemporary British Silversmiths.
Programme*:
1.30pm Registration
2.00pm Welcome and Introduction – Professor Hans Stofer, RCA
2.10pm Silver Speaks – Rauni Higson, Event Chair and Chair of Contemporary British Silversmiths
2.30pm Opening by Rosy Greenlees OBE, Executive Director of the Crafts Council
3.00pm The Silversmiths’ Toolbox: Secrets of a Master Craftsman
Panel chaired by Rosemary Ransome Wallis FRSA FRBS, former Art Director and Curator of The Goldsmiths’ Company with Rebecca de Quin, Angela Cork and Jane Short with Kyosun Jung
The skills of a master craftsman are acquired over a lifetime of practice. This panel will explore how these skills can be passed on between silversmiths and the practical benefits of peer to peer learning.
*we regret that due to unforeseen circumstances, Rod Kelly has had to pull out of this event.
4.00pm BREAK
4.30pm A Silversmith Made That? Exploring Design Collaborations in Silversmithing
Panel discussion chaired by leading applied arts journalist and curator Corinne Julius, curator of Silver Speaks: Idea to Object at the V&A
Throughout history, the unique skills of silversmiths have been called upon by the wider design world. V&A Curator Eric Turner will give an historical perspective, followed by an interview panel of a selection of silversmiths and their work working closely together with designers to produce exciting new works for contemporary life.
Panel to include Richard Fox talking about his work with Formula1 and Rolls Royce, Chris Knight with collaborations in architecture and design, Vicki Ambery-Smith with her collaborations including Heatherwick Studios and Shannon O’Neill who has recently completed the Randox Grand National Trophy
5.30pm Q&A
6.00pm Drinks and a chance to meet your favourite silversmiths
*Programme subject to change
> Go to programme of events
