Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) and the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) have agreed to partner on several initiatives—from high school outreach programs to collaborative magazine articles—to bring new educational opportunities to the jewelry industry.

In an attempt to both strengthen the jewelry workforce and increase minority representation in the industry, high schools that receive a SNAG Minority Outreach Grant will now be eligible to participate in MJSA’s Tools for Schools program. The SNAG awards, which were seeded with a three-year matching grant from the American Craft Council, provide funding for tools and supplies as well as for presentations by guest artists. The Tools for Schools program, administered by the MJSA Education Foundation, enables schools to purchase discounted supplies from MJSA member companies.

Schools receiving grants will be invited to take part in the MJSA Future of the Industry Awards competition, in which industry professionals judge jewelry pieces created by students. The competition will now feature a new category, sponsored by SNAG, recognizing outstanding metals techniques.