The Marlin Cohrs Emerging Metalsmith Scholarship Fund
&
The Burnt Opal Award
SCHOLARSHIP and AWARD APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN FOR
THE 2025 CONFERENCE ON MARCH 15, 2025
The Marlin Cohrs Emerging Metalsmith Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Marlin Cohrs who donated numerous hours of audio/visual support at CoMA conferences for over 15 years, is made available by the continuing support of donations from members, sponsors and fund raising initiatives made by Board members. There are 8 scholarships available to purchase a ticket to attend the 2025 conference.
Additionally, CoMA is excited to offer, for the first time in 2025, The Burnt Opal Award.When Jim Miller was in the early stages of his metalsmithing career, he was told he could heat an opal to repair a ring, and so he did. It was a serious financial hardship to replace the customer’s opal, and he swore that he would always help a less experienced jeweler if he had the chance. In that spirit of sharing information, his family would like to support a student or emerging metal artist with student/emerging conference registration and a $200 stipend to be used towards travel, accommodations or purchases at the CoMA Conference. If you would like to be considered for the Burnt Opal Award, please add a statement to your Student Scholarship application describing how or why this award would benefit you.One award will be offered to a qualified Emerging Metalsmith to attend the 2025 conference.
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Marlin Cohrs Emerging Metalsmith Scholarship and The Burnt Opal Award
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In keeping with CoMA's mission, we want to support and foster the professional, educational, and artistic growth of all metalsmiths. The following definition is intended to include emerging metalsmiths of all ages and in support a diversity of paths available in the metalsmithing field.
Applicants should have the goal of developing a metalsmithing career. If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact Kim Harrell, president@coloradometalsmiths.org.
Emerging Metalsmith is defined as follows:
- graduated from a full-time or part-time educational program (college, university, technical college, community college, non-traditional school) and/or any other degree, certificate or non-certificate granting program within the last 3 years.
OR
- enrolled full-time or part-time (2 or more classes) in any educational program (college, university, technical college, community college, non-traditional school) and/or any other degree, certificate or non-certificate granting program.
OR
- having LESS than 3 years of professional experience as a metalsmith.
Application Deadline: 11.59pm, July 13, 2025 or until all scholarships have been awarded.
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Priority will be given to CoMA members thru May 15, 2025; non-CoMA members may apply but will not be considered until after May 15, 2025. If you have received an award no more than twice, you may apply but first time applicants will be given priority.
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Emerging Metalsmith Scholarship recipients will be selected by the current CoMA Conference Committee and members of Jim Miller's family will select the Burnt Opal awardee. No documents are officially required. However, we may contact you if we have any questions.
Eligibility Requirements
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Meet the above definition of Emerging Metalsmith with the goal of growing your metalsmithing career.
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You do NOT need to be a current CoMA member, however priority is given to current student/emerging members through May 15th, 2025.
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Priority will be given to applicants who ave NOT received a CoMA scholarship in the past. You may still apply if you have no more than one previous scholarship.
'Additional Information' Section Requirements
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Please explain how you qualify for this scholarship with reference to our definition of 'Emerging Metalsmith' (see above)
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If you would like to be considered for the Burnt Opal Award, additionally explain how this Award will benefit you.
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If you have had a scholarship before, please explain why you still qualify as an 'emerging' metalsmith.
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Website (optional)
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Social media link (optional)
We appreciate you taking the time to submit your application. You should hear from the Board President by the first week in June. If you are successful, you will be given a coupon code to use to receive your complimentary Emerging Metalsmith ticket to FORGING THE FUTURE, our July 19-20, 2025 Conference in LOVELAND, Colorado.