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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 in November 2025.
The final group of GEMZ participants currently working on their final projects consists of:
Tina Jiao (CN), Ruochong Cheng (CN), Anna Rusínová (CZ), Sylver Eulalee Mair (GB), Zoé Kiner-Wolff (FR), Stefan Boerkamp (NL), rae richards (US).