Though memories of Rio Grande’s 2013 Saul Bell Design Award festivities still linger, the Albuquerque, N.M.-based jewelry supply house is already looking for entrants for next year’s competition.

Rio Grande on issued a call for entries to its Saul Bell Design Award 2014 competition, which recognizes innovation in jewelry design across seven categories. Artists are encouraged to “push the limits of their imaginations as they create an original piece of jewelry art,” according to contest guidelines. New for this year: an alternative metals/materials category in which designers may use any nontraditional metal or material not covered in another category, including base metals, reactive metals, resin, glass, wood, found objects, and textiles.

Other categories include silver/Argentium silver, gold/platinum, metal clay, hollowware/art objects, enamel, and emerging jewelry artist (open to designers age 18 or younger as of Aug. 1, 2013).

“There is no higher incentive to challenge us as designers than the Saul Bell awards,” Ryan Roberts, the 2013 grand prize winner in the gold/platinum category, told the media this week.

Winners will be recognized at a gala dinner and will receive other media exposure. Initial designs are due Sept. 27, and finalists will be notified by early November; completed pieces must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2014. Emerging artists must submit their initial design concepts by Nov. 29.

For more details, log onto saulbellaward.com or contact Arien Gessner at 505-839-3288 or agessner@riogrande.com.

JCK