Inspired by the passion for color and the natural love affair with the beauty of gemstones and innovation, ENLIGHTENED – Swarovski Elements Passion Topaz genuine gemstone collection was created to bring color and an added touch of something special to design.

Passion Topaz and design innovation in color using Swarovski’s ENLIGHTENED – Swarovski Elements genuine Passion Topaz® gemstones is the main focus of this competition. The designs will be used to inspire the use of their Passion Topaz assortment and stimulate the market through future insights of jewellery and bejewelled eyewear design. The submitted designs will not be produced in series, but Signity AG reserves the right to realize the winning designs as prototypes, include any and all design sketches in our communication tools and present them during various ENLIGHTENED – Swarovski Elements Branding activities.

International designers and design enthusiasts are welcomed to participate in the competition. The minimum age for the participation is 18 years of age at the time of submission. Prospective entrants must first register and accept the competition conditions before submitting any of their designs. Groups are not allowed to participate in the competition. November 30th, 2008 is the last day for submission of designs to be taken into consideration for exhibition at Baselworld 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

More color! New Art Perspectives is calling for entries for their “Colors of Life” contest. They want you to explore the dimensions and perspectives of “The Colors of Life” in a variety of mediums - photography, digital art, painting, drawing, sculpture, craft, jewelery, metal art, wood art, multi-media, or any other creative means.

This contest is open to all artists of all forms, both professional and amateur anywhere in the world. Although the prizes aren’t huge, this contest can provide you with an online presence for $20 USD for three works ($12 for one). Deadline is 5 December 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

Sponsored by NICHE magazine, the annual NICHE Awards competition celebrates excellence and innovation in American and Canadian craft. Categories include Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Metal, Wood, Jewelry, Home Furnishings, Judaica, Recycled, Teapots and many more. Two new categories have been added to the professional division for 2009: Art Quilts and Fashion Accessories.

Entries are now being accepted. Entry forms, program guidelines and other information on the NICHE Awards can be found by clicking on the links to the left. Entry deadline for professionals is August 30, 2008. Deadline for student entries is September 30, 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

The Adi Foundation seeks to nurture the work of artists exploring the nexus between art and Judaism. To that end, the Foundation’s central project is a biennial international competition in the visual arts and design on a theme related to Jewish thought and tradition. This competition is open to artists, including students, from a wide variety of fields in the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, prints, drawings, photography, video, installation art, computer art and design (Judaica, industrial design, graphic design, jewelry, fashion, etc.).

The theme of the fourth Adi Prize (2008) is Rupture and Repair. Information on the theme, including a source book on the subject, is available on the Foundation’s web-site, www.adifoundation.co.il.

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Rings & Things invite you to show them your favorite handmade design — it can be anything made from six categories including glass, gemstone, alternative materials and more. Winning entries (with credit to the designer) could be featured in their catalog and promotions. That’s exposure to more than a million people per year worldwide.

Entries accepted from 1 February through 29 February 2008. Winners announced the first week of May. Be aware that by submitting an entry, you give Rings & Things permission to use images of your piece in print and online publications. Visit the site to learn more.

The 2008 METAL Inclinations International juried exhibition will include selections of the most exemplary fine metal art created by metalsmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewelers all over the world. This strictly digital show will be trend setting.

The jurors for the Metal Inclinations exhibition are: Michael Monroe, a well-known and highly respected figure in the crafts community, now head of the Bellevue Art Museum in Seattle, Washington, former head of the American Craft Council and former curator-in-charge of the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery in Washington D.C. Otto Kazli, an internationally acclaimed jeweler, curator and academic, heads the Jewellery Department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany. Susie Ganch is currently Assistant Professor and Head of the Metals Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia.

Deadline for entry is 30 June 2008. Visit the site to learn more.