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APPRENTICES & INTERNS

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Artists programs at the Metal Museum support metalsmiths, their creative process, and the development of new ideas and work. These programs provide artists with opportunities for research, professional development, and networking and ultimately strive to foster creative growth and new working practices.

Discover a unique training ground for metalsmiths across the country.

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For decades the Metal Museum has offered metal artists the opportunity to hone their craft and professional skills in a beautiful location on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. The rich, layered history of the grounds and buildings marry contemporary craft in this one-of-a-kind institution located minutes from the Downtown Memphis area. Guided by knowledgeable shop staff, apprentices and interns draw upon the Museum’s vast resources to create original works and challenge themselves in their personal and professional lives. Currently the Metal Museum remains the only institution in the country dedicated to the preservation and advancement of metal arts and craft.

Blacksmithing apprentice Ann Klicka polishes a commissioned piece in the Smithy.

Learn from artists and craftsmen with years of experience in the field.

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Prominent blacksmiths and metal artists come to the Metal Museum every year for exhibitions, volunteer opportunities, and educational workshops. Here students are afforded the special opportunity to improve working methods and learn new skills by studying with masters of the craft. This intimate, hands-on environment means they will forge connections with their peers and instructors that will positively impact their careers for years to come.

The Museum founding director and our Metals Shop Coordinator raise their hands in celebration during Repair Days.

Immerse yourself in a site that’s steeped in history.

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The Metal Museum traces its origins to a blacksmithing conference held in 1976. At this conference, the idea of a museum dedicated to metal arts and craft was formed. In the years following its inception the Metal Museum would host its own educational conferences and create projects of international scale including the Anniversary Gates at the entrance to the Museum. Numerous sculptures reside on the grounds including works by Brent Kington, Manfred Bredohl, and metalsmiths associated with the Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America. The Museum itself occupies 3.2 acres of land, including three historic buildings that were once part of a public health service hospital.

A view of the Library building and grounds, taken from the gazebo.

For more information, please contact our Metals Shop Coordinator, Jeannie Tomlinson Saltmarsh, at jeannie@metalmuseum.org

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