Bead Jewelry Grant From Halstead Bead, Inc.

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Halstead Bead, Inc. is looking for talented bridge jewelry artists!

Once again Halstead Bead Inc. is offering a Jewelry Business Grant to one lucky bead jewelry artist who can not only demonstrate a real jewelry design talent, but also good business sense and planning! This year the grant amount is worth $6,000 in cash and merchandise as well as plenty of free publicity!

The application must be postmarked by June 30th, 2007, so you still have some time. The four page application really makes you put together a short jewelry business plan and makes you concentrate on what you need to do to start a viable business. This grant and application process is really meant for the person who is serious about turning their hobby into a full-time business. Halstead reports that many bead artisans appreciate the application process even if they don’t win because it helps them focus their effors in the proper areas.

Halstead even gives last year’s winner a free mention:

Last year’s grant winner was Ananda Khalsa Jewelry of Providence, RI. The jewelry line features tiny original paintings set into sterling silver jewelry. Khalsa’s work is inspired by Asian art and rich cultural symbolism. The firm used the 2006 grant to increase marketing efforts and hire production staff. Ananda Khalsa Jewelry is growing rapidly and is available in boutiques across the country, online at www.anandakhalsa.com and via other popular jewelry websites.

Halstead breaks bead jewelry into three categories: Fine Jewelry (gold, silver, and platinum mostly with expensive gemstones and castings), Bridge Jewelry (high quality metal, semi-precious stones, could be bead jewelry or castings), and Costume Jewelry (mostly base metals, rhinestones or lower quality material put together quickly). Halstead is looking for people who fall into the Bridge Jewelry category for this grant!

Halstead Bead Inc. says they are putting together this contest to encourage creativity and help the independent artist and jewelry designer who is facing increased competition from overseas labor and markets. They’re really looking for someone who has both creativity and business sense! I have to admit I’d never visited their site before this, but now I’m going to browse around and see what sort of interesting beads I might be able to find there.

The winner will be announced in August, so cross your fingers and send in your applications!