Seattle Metals Guild

What Seattle Metals Guild does

Seattle Metals Guild is a Washington State nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Micki Lippe that promotes education, community support, and advancement in the field of metalsmithing. The Guild serves jewelers, metalsmiths, artists, makers, students, and metals enthusiasts at all career stages across the Pacific Northwest, offering a portfolio of membership-based programs including three annual membership tiers (Student at $20/year, General at $55/year, Corporate at $70/year), the flagship annual Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium (entering its 32nd year in 2026), grant programs (Project Grant at $2,500, Established and Emerging Artist grants), a mentorship program piloted in 2025, lecture series, studio tours, biennial exhibitions, and a lending library.

The organization's underlying technology is a Squarespace-hosted web platform providing content management, event registration, member directory, and online store functionality. Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring membership dues, annual Symposium ticket sales (in-person and online with early-bird pricing), an annual silent auction fundraiser, and direct tax-deductible donations. Distribution is direct-to-member through the website, with community engagement amplified via a weekly email newsletter, Facebook Forum and Page, Instagram, and a YouTube channel hosting symposium archives dating to 1994.

The Guild is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operated almost entirely by volunteers, with only five employees on record. Strategic partnerships anchor the operating model: Pratt Fine Arts Center hosts Guild Fest events; Penland School of Craft co-sponsors the Phillip Baldwin Endowed Scholarship; and MJSA collaborates on the Mentor Apprenticeship Program. Industry sponsors (Rio Grande, Art Jewelry Forum, Potter USA, Contenti, Tiny Shiny Tool Works) provide supplementary funding. The organization is debt-free, with no venture or private equity investment, and is funded entirely through member dues, sponsorships, donations, and event revenue.

Name

Seattle Metals Guild

Legal name

Seattle Metals Guild

Website

https://seattlemetalsguild.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Seattle Metals Guild is a Washington State nonprofit founded in 1989 that serves jewelers, metalsmiths, artists, and students through memberships, an annual symposium, grants, mentorship, and exhibitions across the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metalsmithing and jewelry arts education community

NAICS

Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOADAO

Ornamental Ironwork & Artistic Metalwork Training

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Welding, Metalwork & Fabrication

Keywords

• Metalsmithing education
• Jewelry community
• Artist membership
• Craft symposium
• Metals art grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at three tiers: Student ($20/year), General ($55/year), Corporate ($70/year). Provides newsletter access, member directory listings, exhibition opportunities, mentorship access, and discounted symposium tickets.
2. Symposium Revenue: Annual Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium generates revenue through ticket sales at multiple price points (Student, Emerging Professional, Individual). Includes in-person and online attendance options with early bird discounts available.
3. Silent Auction Fundraiser: Primary annual fundraiser conducted during the Symposium. Accepts donated pieces from members and participants with minimum retail value of $50. Participants can donate 100% of sale or receive 50% share.
4. Direct Donations: Accepts tax-deductible donations in various amounts ($25, $50, $100, $250, $500) to support artist grants and programming for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Seattle Metals Guild is a nonprofit membership organization that delivers metalsmithing education, community programming, and grant support to jewelers, metalsmiths, students, and artists. It sells annual memberships at three tiers, hosts the annual Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium, runs grant programs (Project Grant and Established Artist Grant at $2,500), and operates mentorship, lecture, exhibition, and library programs for its members.

Product overview

The Seattle Metals Guild is a Washington State nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of membership-based programs and events for metals artists at all career levels. The core offerings include three tiers of annual memberships (Student at $20/year, General at $55/year, and Corporate at $70/year), the flagship Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium (annual event), grant programs (Project Grant, Established Artist Grant, and Emerging Artist Grant), the SMG Mentorship Program, a weekly newsletter, Show & Tell event series, lecture series, studio tours, biennial exhibitions, and library access with borrowing privileges. The Guild also operates its primary annual fundraiser through a Silent Auction held in conjunction with the Symposium. The organization serves as a community hub connecting jewelers, metalsmiths, artists, and makers through educational and networking opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium: The Guild's annual premier educational and networking event bringing together artists, designers, makers, curators, and anyone interested in metal as a medium.

Products and services

• Student Membership Annual Student Membership at $20 per year providing full member benefits including newsletter, member directory listing, exhibition opportunities, mentorship access, and discounted Symposium tickets for students in accredited educational or apprenticeship programs.
• General Membership Annual General Membership at $55 per year providing the full benefits package including newsletter, event updates, member opportunities, and member directory access.
• Corporate Membership Annual Corporate Membership at $70 per year providing all general membership benefits plus business/corporate partnership visibility, including listing on the Guild's resources page and a shoutout in the newsletter.
• Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium The Guild's premier annual flagship event bringing together artists, designers, jewelers, metalsmiths, educators, students, and collectors. The 32nd annual edition in 2026 features internationally recognized presenters, a silent auction, book sale, and online streaming option. Tickets sold at Student ($35-45), Emerging Professional ($75-85), and Individual ($155-170) tiers with early bird pricing through August 31.
• Project Grant Annual $2,500 grant awarded to one Guild member to support a specific artistic project. Half the award is provided at project start with the remainder following a community experience, plus complimentary symposium registration, newsletter feature, and a solo case in the 2027 Biennial Exhibition.
• Established Artist Grant Annual $2,500 grant celebrating and supporting mid-to-late career metal artists who demonstrate sustained dedication to their craft, with eligibility for those having 5+ exhibitions or 5+ industry publications. Award includes artistic development funds, complimentary symposium registration, and a solo case in the SMG Biennial Exhibition.
• Emerging Artist Grant Grant program supporting emerging artists in the metalsmithing field, providing funding and exhibition opportunities to develop their artistic practice.
• SMG Mentorship Program One-on-one mentorship program connecting experienced metalsmithing professionals (mentors) with mentees for personalized learning experiences, run as a pilot program with summer cohorts from June through August.
• Silent Auction Primary annual fundraiser held in conjunction with the Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium. Accepts donated pieces (minimum retail value $50) from members and participants; donors may contribute 100% of sale proceeds to the Guild or retain a 50% share.
• Show & Tell Event Series Online event series where Guild members present images or short videos of their work for conversation and constructive peer feedback in a supportive creative environment.
• YouTube Symposium Archive Digital archive of symposium lectures and presentations hosted on the Guild's YouTube channel, providing ongoing access to recorded content from internationally recognized artists and educators dating back to 1994.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Guild member Nanz Aalund developed the Mentor Apprenticeship Program (MAP) in partnership with MJSA. The program is a national 'gold standard' apprenticeship program in the jewelry field, with a path to federal funding for tax write-offs for mentor employers.
• Women's Shelter Jewelry ProjectcoreOthers · 1 January 1999Sister organization founded in 1999 by Micki Lippe, originally part of SMG but now an independent nonprofit. Helps women in shelters build hope through jewelry. Fiscally sponsored by Angels for Angels.
• Rio GrandeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors the Guild and its programming. Listed among generous sponsors on the Guild website alongside other industry suppliers and organizations.
• Art Jewelry ForumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors the Guild as a nonprofit organization focused on jewelry and metals. Provides support for Guild programming and community events.
• Potter USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry supplier and sponsor of the Guild's programming and events.
• ContentiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJewelry supply company that sponsors the Guild and its member programming.
• Pratt Fine Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor institutional partner. Guild Fest events held at Pratt Fine Arts Center. Micki Lippe, Guild founder, is listed as an artist at Pratt. The center serves as a key venue for Guild programming.
• Tiny Shiny Tool WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTool company that sponsors the Guild and its activities.
• Penland School of CraftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Guild to establish the Phillip Baldwin Endowed Scholarship in Iron and Metal Smithing. Guild members contributed through exhibition purchases of Mokume-gane materials. Scholarship will provide approximately $3,750 for tuition, room, and board for workshops.
• Diamonds for PeaceminorOthersNon-profit supporting artisanal diamond mining in rural Liberia. Guild Board Member Amy Hsieh volunteers with DfP. Guild promotes DfP's initiatives including tree planting ($12 per tree) to fight climate change.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pratt Fine Arts Center: Seattle-based fine arts education center offering metals and jewelry programs. Strategic partner hosting Guild Fest events; directly comparable Seattle arts education ecosystem role with overlapping programming and audience.
• Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA): National trade association for the jewelry manufacturing industry. Strategic partner through the Mentor Apprenticeship Program; comparable mission of advancing jewelry and metalsmithing through education, apprenticeship, and industry support.
• Metal Museum: Memphis-based metals-focused museum and community organization offering exhibitions, educational programming, and residencies for metalsmiths. Comparable mission of advancing metalsmithing through education and community programming.
• Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG): National professional organization for metalsmiths and jewelers in North America. Highly comparable mission of advancing the field of metalsmithing through education, exhibitions, and publications, with a broader geographic scope than Seattle Metals Guild.
• Bay Area Metalsmiths: Regional metals guild serving the San Francisco Bay Area metalsmithing community. Closely analogous regional guild model with educational programming, exhibitions, and member services for jewelers and metalsmiths.

Broad incumbents

• Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Maine-based craft education school offering workshops across multiple media including metalsmithing. Comparable craft education mission with workshops, residencies, and community programming for makers.
• American Craft Council: National nonprofit organization advancing contemporary craft across all media. Broader scope than Seattle Metals Guild but comparable mission of supporting craft education, exhibitions, and community programming.
• Penland School of Craft: National center for craft education offering workshops in metals, jewelry, and many other media. Strategic partner of Seattle Metals Guild for the Phillip Baldwin Endowed Scholarship; broader scope but directly comparable craft education focus.
• Art Jewelry Forum: Nonprofit organization supporting contemporary art jewelry through online publications and events. Sponsorship partner of Seattle Metals Guild; comparable mission of advancing jewelry as an art form through education and community.
• Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: National craft education school offering workshops in metals and jewelry among other media. Comparable craft education model with residential programming and exhibition opportunities for makers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@seattlemetalsguild8082
• Facebookfacebook.com/SeattleMetalsGuild
• Instagraminstagram.com/seattlemetalsguild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seattle-metals-guild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seattle Metals Guild