Society Of Gilders

What Society Of Gilders does

The Society of Gilders is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization (EIN #22-2900695), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating since at least 2000 (with firmographic records dating to 1993). Its mission is to preserve and advance the art and craft of gilding — a tradition spanning over 4,000 years — through education, professional networking, and community service. It operates a portfolio of products and services including a tiered individual membership program ($100/year starting price), a biannual full-color journal called The Gilders Tip, a biennial in-person conference (most recently held June 15-19, 2026 at the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, SC), recurring virtual lectures through Gilders on Zoom, a museum (the Museum of the Gilding Arts in Pontiac, Illinois), and a portfolio of hands-on workshops covering water gilding, oil gilding, kintsugi, kirikane, reparure, verre églomisé, and decorative techniques such as pastiglia, sgraffito, and sablé. Instructors are drawn internationally from France, Vietnam, Japan, Norway, and the United States, and workshop pricing ranges from $260 to $1,450 per course.

Name

Society Of Gilders

Legal name

Society of Gilders

Website

https://societyofgilders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Society of Gilders is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that preserves and teaches the craft of gilding through membership, a biannial conference, hands-on workshops, a journal, a museum, and community restoration projects for artisans, conservators, and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fayetteville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to directory, The Gilders Tip journal, discounted classes, early event registration, networking opportunities, and member-only resources. Individual membership starts at $100/year.
2. Conference Registration: Biennial conference tickets with tiered pricing: early bird member ($295), standard member ($395), non-member ($495). Includes access to lectures, workshops, social events, and exhibit.
3. Workshop and Class Fees: Hands-on educational workshops and classes taught by master gilders. Pricing varies by course duration and materials included, ranging from $260-$1,450 per class. Conference classes require separate registration from conference attendance.
4. Shop and Merchandise: Online shop selling official Society of Gilders merchandise and products from sponsors including gold leaf, tools, and gilding supplies.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations accepted through their website. EIN #22-2900695. Corporate sponsorship opportunities available for events and community projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Society of Gilders is a non-profit educational organization that preserves and teaches the art and craft of gilding through a tiered membership program, a biennial conference with hands-on workshops, the biannual Gilders Tip journal, Gilders on Zoom virtual lectures, the Museum of the Gilding Arts in Pontiac, Illinois, and community restoration projects at cultural institutions. Its core paid offerings are annual memberships ($100+/year), conference registrations ($295-$495), and specialized multi-day workshops ($260-$1,450) covering water gilding, verre églomisé, kintsugi, kirikane, reparure, and other traditional techniques.

Product overview

The Society of Gilders is a non-profit educational organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on preserving and advancing the art of gilding. The core offerings include a Membership Program providing access to member directory, The Gilders Tip journal, networking, and educational resources; the biennial Conference featuring hands-on workshops (Traditional Water-Gilding, Kintsugi, Reparure, Decorative Gilding Techniques, Kirikane, Patina, Gilded Antique Mirror, Drawing the Acanthus, Gilding Cushion, Artistic Églomisé, Verre Églomisé) and lectures; the Gilders on Zoom online education program; the Museum of the Gilding Arts in Pontiac, Illinois; an Online Shop; Community Projects for pro bono restoration work; and the Sandra Spannan Educational Scholarship. The organization serves artisans, conservators, and enthusiasts dedicated to traditional gilding techniques.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Gilders Tip: A full-color biannual journal with articles on gilding techniques, materials, and more.
• Gilders on Zoom
• Museum of the Gilding Arts

Products and services

• Membership Program Tiered annual membership program offering access to a searchable member directory, biannual Gilders Tip journal, networking, discounted workshops, early event registration, and exhibition opportunities for professional gilders, conservators, and enthusiasts.
• Biennial Conference In-person biennial conference uniting gilders, artisans, artists, and tradespersons for hands-on workshops, expert lectures, social gatherings, pop-up exhibits, and a community restoration project. The 2026 conference was held June 15-19 at the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, SC.
• Gilders on Zoom Online education program providing live lectures and access to an exclusive video library featuring presentations by expert gilders on various techniques and topics, available to members.
• Traditional Water-Gilding Workshop Four-day intensive course on traditional water gilding covering preparation of traditional gesso, clay bole application, gold leaf handling, and agate burnishing for a mirror-like finish, taught by B. Corey Johnson. Priced $1,045 (members) to $1,450 (non-members).
• Verre Églomisé Workshop Three-day intensive class on Verre Églomisé (reverse gilded and painted glass) taught by Lynne Rutter in San Francisco, covering fundamental techniques, etching, painting, and finishing methods. Priced $1,400 (members) to $1,450 (non-members).
• Kintsugi Workshop Three-day hands-on course on Kintsugi (Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold) taught by Catherine Lignier using authentic Japanese Urushi lacquer and pure gold powder techniques. Priced $910 (members early registration) to $970 (members open registration).
• Reparure Workshop Two-day workshop on classical French Reparure (gesso engraving and carving) on 17th-century motifs, taught by Bruno Toupry, covering traditional background patterns including Berclay, fool's play, and Damier. Priced $825 (members) to $885 (members open registration), with optional $685 Laverdure chisel tool fee.
• Kirikane Workshop Three-day workshop on traditional Japanese Kirikane (cut gold) art for decorating Buddhist statues, taught by Dao Huy Hoang, covering gold leaf cutting, adhesive preparation, and Mandala-inspired pattern creation.
• Gilded Antique Mirror Workshop Two-day hands-on glass gilding workshop teaching creation of gilded mirrors using genuine silver leaf with various antiquing techniques, led by Micki Cavanah with Lynne Rutter for verre églomisé introduction. Priced $570-$620 (members) with optional $85 tool kit.
• Decorative Gilding Techniques Workshop Two-day workshop covering four decorative techniques for water gilded surfaces: Pastiglia (relief gesso), Sgraffito, Granito/Amati, and Sablé, taught by Bruno Toupry.
• Drawing the Acanthus Workshop Two-day workshop teaching the secrets and codes of ancestral leaves, flowers, and architectural ornaments such as the acanthus leaf, including true shadow and projected shadow techniques, taught by Aline Putot. Priced $430-$470 (members).
• Patina Workshop One-day class on adding patina to gilded surfaces to simulate natural wear and age, taught by Bruno Toupry, covering techniques to achieve 50-200 years of aged appearance.
• Artistic Églomisé Workshop Three-day course on decorative effects for reverse gilded glass panels including water and oil gilding, texturing varnish, enamel blending, marbling, and stencil techniques, taught by Sean Michael Felix.
• Gilding Cushion Workshop Workshop on creating gilding cushions using wood, leather, and parchment for wind-screens, including information on different cushion types by country of origin, taught by Aline Putot. Priced $260-$280 (members).
• The Gilders Tip Journal A full-color biannual journal featuring articles on gilding techniques, materials, and industry insights, included as a core membership benefit and serving as the primary professional publication for the gilding community.
• Museum of the Gilding Arts Physical museum located in Pontiac, Illinois dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the art of gilding, operated as part of the organization's educational mission to showcase gilding arts and artifacts.
• Online Shop E-commerce platform offering official Society of Gilders merchandise and products from sponsors including gold leaf, tools, and gilding supplies.
• Sandra Spannan Educational Scholarship Scholarship fund providing conference registration fee waiver and tuition for one gilding course up to $800 for SOG members in good standing, with awardees required to submit an article to The Gilders Tip.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13+ workshops offered at each biennial conference covering diverse gilding techniques from water gilding to kintsugi
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sepp Leaf ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Society of Gilders, providing donations of gold leaf materials for community projects and educational workshops including decorative gilding techniques classes.
• W&B Gold LeafminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing gold leaf for workshops including Gilded Antique Mirror class and Verre Églomisé courses. Also provides optional gilding tool kits for students.
• Easy Leaf ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor donating gold leaf and materials for community projects including the Gibbes Museum restoration and Kids Gilding Event.
• Manetti (Istituto Di Rappresentanza Italiana Manetti Battiloro)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian gold leaf sponsor featured on the SOG website. Manetti has over 400 years of gold leaf manufacturing history.
• Noris BlattgoldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman gold leaf sponsor featured on the SOG website sponsors page.
• EytzingerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Society of Gilders featured on the website sponsors page.
• Compleat SculptorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaterial donor for the 2026 Gibbes Museum community project, providing supplies for frame restoration.
• Angel GildingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing antiquing materials for the Gilded Antique Mirror workshop at the 2026 Conference.
• HorikinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJapanese manufacturer sponsoring silver leaf for the Kirikane workshop at the 2026 Conference.
• Reed's Gold LeafminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/donor for community projects including 2024 ACBA projects and 2022 Asheville conference. Founded by Lou Reed in 1972.
• American College of the Building Arts (ACBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for 2024 and 2026 SOG Conferences in Charleston, SC. Founded in 2004, ACBA is the only U.S. college focused on building arts craftsmanship and preservation. The partnership provides ideal workshop facilities for hands-on gilding instruction.
• Gibbes Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric Charleston museum that partnered with SOG for the 2026 Community Project involving restoration of two antique frames and a Kids Gilding Event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC): National membership association for conservation professionals, including those who practice or oversee gilded object conservation. Comparable as a specialized educational/professional membership nonprofit serving heritage practitioners with workshops, publications, and an annual meeting.
• National Sculpture Society: Educational nonprofit dedicated to sculpture, including traditional figurative and decorative work involving gilding. Closely comparable as a craft-education membership organization offering workshops, exhibitions, and publications.
• Traditional Building Conference Series: Education-focused conference series covering traditional building arts including decorative finishes and gilding. Directly comparable as a workshop-and-lecture event format serving the same craft-education audience as SOG's biennial conference.
• The Furniture Society: Educational nonprofit supporting the art of fine furniture making, including gilding and decorative surface treatments. Directly comparable as a small craft-education membership organization offering workshops, conferences, and a member directory.
• International Sculpture Center: Member-based nonprofit supporting sculptors through education, publications, and conferences, including decorative and gilded sculpture techniques. Comparable operating model and scale to SOG, serving practicing fine-artisans.
• Heritage Crafts Association: UK charity advocating for traditional heritage crafts and endangered craft skills. Comparable mission and structure to SOG: a nonprofit advancing endangered craft knowledge through education, advocacy, and practitioner support.
• American College of the Building Arts: Charleston, SC-based nonprofit higher education institution focused on traditional building crafts including architectural gilding. SOG's host venue and core strategic partner; directly comparable as a small, craft-focused educational nonprofit serving overlapping practitioner audiences.
• Association for Preservation Technology (APT): International membership organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures and their settings. Overlaps with SOG in preservation-craft education, conferences, and publications targeted at heritage trades professionals.

Emerging players

• Surface Design Association: International nonprofit focused on surface design and decorative arts, including gilding, patination, and embellishment. Adjacent peer with partial thematic overlap; comparable membership-and-educational nonprofit structure but a broader decorative-arts scope.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Large US nonprofit focused on historic preservation at scale, including properties and trades. Adjacent rather than direct overlap with SOG's craft-specific mission, but shares the heritage-education and member-driven funding model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@societyofgilders7806/shorts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-gilders
• Instagraminstagram.com/societyofgilders
• Facebookfacebook.com/SocietyofGilders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Society Of Gilders