About the Award
This award is SNAG’s highest honor and is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of metalsmithing. Selection of the award recipient is made by a committee of three members, and the makeup of the committee changes each time.
Honorees receive recognition at SNAG’s conference and on the website, a specially designed award, and a lifetime membership in SNAG.
Criteria for the award include:
- Sustained, long term commitment to the metal arts
- Significant contributions to the field
- Noteworthy achievements through creative work, teaching, research, scholarship, exhibition and curatorial work, and/or other meaningful activities in support of contemporary practice.
Nominations
The next award will be given in 2024. Nominations submitted by December 1, 2023 will be considered. Once nominated, an individual’s name remains under consideration for 5 years, after which time, if not selected, they must be re-nominated to stay eligible for consideration.
Anyone may nominate someone for the Lifetime Achievement Award. You do not need to be a SNAG member. Also the nominee does not have to be SNAG member.
Youjin Um created a new award design, "Memory of Object" made of sterling silver, in 2022 (pictured above). Youjin is a SNAG member who lives in Seoul, Korea.
Recipient Profiles
Recipients
Jamie Bennett (2022)
Eleanor Moty (2020/2021)
James Wallace (2019)
Sharon Church (2018)
Helen Shirk (2017)
Gary Noffke (2016)
Fred Fenster (2015)
Robert Ebendorf (2014)
Gary Griffin (2013)
J. Fred Woell (2012)
L. Brent Kington (2011)
Lois Etherington Betteridge (2010)
Stanley Lechtzin (2009)
Heikki Seppä (2008)
Mary Ann Scherr (2007)
Kurt Matzdorf (2006)
John Paul Miller (2005)
Imogene “Tex” Gieling (2004)
Helen Drutt English (2003)
Arline Fisch (2002)
Philip Morton (2001)
Oppi Untracht (2000)
Margaret Craver (1999)
Harry Bober (1998)
Nathan Winkler (1997)
Pages honoring all past award recipients are in progress and will be posted when complete.