Achievement Awards

The Enamelist Society Board of Trustees awards one or more people special awards at its biennial conferences. Winners are chosen for their selfless and unflagging service to the enameling community and for their personal accomplishments and achievements in enameling. Current award designations are:

The Creative Arts Award

Given to a living enamelist who shows evidence of pushing the creative edges of the medium in design, technique and presentation throughout his/her career. 

Lifetime Achievement Award

Given to a living enamellist whose whole body of work shows development of techniques, innovative design, beauty of object, love of the material, fine craftsmanship, and a sharing of their knowledge with others.

Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

Established to honor those who are presently working to benefit the world of enameling.

From time to time the Society creates special awards, sometimes in memoriam to honor the achievements of those enamelists who are no longer living.

Grants Program

In 2004, the Enamelist Society established a program for awarding of grants to projects that contribute directly to the advancement of enameling. The Society is interested in, but not limited to, educational projects and those that promote enameling.


Funds may not be awarded directly to individuals but rather to groups, such as Guilds, Schools, Art Centers and other organizations that are not commercial in nature. In addition, an Enamelist Society member must be connected to the organization receiving the grant and must be the contact person for the duration of the project, including making an evaluation of it.


Funds for these projects are raised by the Raffle and Auction at each biennial Conference. Please remember when you bid at the Auction or are asked to buy a Raffle ticket your money is going directly to support projects that will enable enameling to continue. This year, the deadline to apply is February 28, 2025. You can find the application and guidelines below!

Grants Program Application

Check back here for the next Grants Program! Thank you to all that applied this year!

Achievement Awards - Previous Winners

2022

  • John H. Killmaster, III - Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Martha Banyas - Creative Arts Award
  • Jan Harrell - Creative Arts Award
  • Cullen Hackler - Woodrow Carpenter Award

2019

  • Herb Friedson - Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Helen Elliott - Creative Arts Award
  • Coral Shaffer - Woodrow Carpenter Award

2017

  • Tom Ellis, Woodrow Carpenter Award

2015

  • Harlan Butt, Creative Arts Award
  • Jessica Calderwood, Creative Arts Award
  • Vicki Mathieu, Woodrow Carpenter Award

2013

  • ​Joseph Tripetti, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Jamie Bennett, Creative Arts Award
  • Gretchen Goss, Creative Arts Award
  • Woodrow Carpenter, Enamelist Society Special Award

2011

  • John Paul Miller, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Averill Shepps, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award
  • Valeri TImofeev, Creative Arts Award

2009

  • Collette Denton, Creative Arts Award
  • Sarah Perkins, Creative Arts Award
  • June Schwarcz, Special Award
  • Judy Stone, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

2007

  • Harold Nelson and Bernard Jazzar, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award
  • Pat O'Neil, Special Award
  • D. X. Ross, Creative Arts Award
  • Stell Shevis, Special Award
  • Kay Whitcomb, Lifetime Achievement Award

2005

  • Lilyan Bachrach, Woodrow W.Carpenter Award

2003

  • Linda Darty, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Marilyn Druin, Enamelist Society Memorial Award
  • Edmund Massow,Creative Arts Award
  • Deanna Robb, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

2001

  • Harold Balazs, Creative Arts Award
  • Bill Helwig, Creative Arts Award
  • John Killmaster, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

1999

  • Alan Perkins, Creative Arts Award
  • John Puskas, Creative Arts Award

1997

  • Paul Hultberg, Creative Arts Award
  • JoAnn Tanzer, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

1995

  • Gwen Anderson, Enamelist Society Special Award
  • Martin Hanson, Lifetime Membership Award
  • Erica Speel, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Jean Tudor, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

1993

  • Woodrow W. Carpenter, Woodrow W. Carpenter Award

1991

  • June Schwarcz, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Helen Worrell, Lifetime Achievement Award

1989

  • Margaret Seeler, Living Treasure of Enameling

1987

  • Kenneth Bates, Dean of American Enameling

Previous Grant Awards

2019

  • Buhl Community Recreation Center - startup for enamel art program
  • Carolina Enamelers - kiln
  • Carpenter Art Enamel Foundation - furnace upgrades
  • Craft Guild of Dallas Metals Department - kiln, safety glasses
  • The Crucible - supplies
  • Littleton Studio School - enameling station and kiln
  • Museum of Glass - workshop series
  • SeDoMoCha Middle School - afterschool metals program
  • Touchstone Center for Crafts - kiln
  • Enamel Guild South - digital controlling pyrometers

2018

  • Ball State University - kiln
  • Center for Enamel Art - Internation Exhibition catalog
  • East Carolina University - speaker fees
  • Enamel Guild/NorthEast - exhibition catalog
  • Pendleton Arts Society - equipment and supplies for children's art camp
  • Perryville HS Art Department - equipment and supplies
  • Spruill Center for the Arts - equipment and supplies
  • Woodrow W. Carpenter Foundation - hydraulic press

2017

  • Ball State University - lecture and demonstration
  • Crucible Enameling Studio - supplies and materials
  • Georgia Goldsmiths Guild - kiln
  • Littleton Studio School - supplies and materials
  • Springfield Art Museum - kiln
  • Western State Colorado University - kiln
  • Woodrow W. Carpenter Foundation - torch firing tools and equipment

2016

  • Academy of Art University - supplies and materials
  • Center for Enamel Art - kiln
  • Indiana University of PA - lead free enamels
  • League of New Hampshire Craftsmen - kiln, equipment and supplies
  • Lynden Sculpture Garden - kiln and supplies
  • Lyndon House Arts Center - supplies
  • Pocosin Arts Inc. - kiln
  • Steam Middle School - supplies
  • Upstate Center for the Arts - kiln, equipment and supplies

2015

  • Center for Enamel Art - web development
  • Great Lakes Enameling Guild - equipment and supplies
  • Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society - kiln
  • Metals Design Guild - East Carolina U. - workshop with Martha Banyas
  • Post Falls High School - kiln
  • University of North Texas Metals Club - workshop with Ken Bova

2014

  • Art School of Old Church - kiln and supplies
  • Center for Enamel Art - tools for workshops
  • Enameling on Steel-Washington Guild - educational DVD
  • Metal Design Guild-East Carolina U. - workshop with Sarah Perkins
  • Montserrat College of Art - kiln and supplies
  • Snow Farm - reduced tuition and ventilation fan
  • South Street Studio-Great Lakes Guild - kiln and supplies
  • Touchstone Center for Crafts - kiln
  • Valdosta State University - supplies and enamels

2013

  • Amerman Elementary School - supplies
  • Beverly Street Studio School - kiln or kiln refurbishment
  • Boise Parks and Recreation - kiln or supplies
  • The Enamel Center - consultation fees for obtaining 501(c)3 status
  • Fire and Fusion - an exhibition of Canadian enameling
  • Goggleworks Center for the Arts - tools and materials
  • Goshen Jewelers Guild - kiln
  • Houston Community College Thompson enamels
  • Mt. Hood Community College - supplies
  • Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen - kiln
  • Shake Rag Alley School of Arts and Crafts - kiln
  • Sharon Art Studio - supplies

2012

  • Academy of Art University - safety glasses
  • Arkansas Art Center - kiln
  • Ball State University - visiting artist lecture and demonstration
  • The Crucible - stools for the enameling department
  • Enamel Guild/Northeast - anniversary conference promotion
  • Engine - kiln
  • Mendocino Art Center - kiln
  • Middleton High School - kiln
  • Mission Hill Middle School - supplies
  • Sharon Art Studio - supplies
  • Society for Contemporary Craft - kiln
  • Tryon Arts & Crafts - supplies

2011

  • Certaldo Italy Enameling Program - kiln, materials
  • Colerain Township Community Center - kiln, supplies
  • Littleton Studio School - materials, supplies
  • Oak Ridge Community Center - visiting artist workshop
  • Sharon Art Studio - supplies, equipment

2010

  • Cabrillo College - class set-up
  • Calistoga Art Center - kiln for new classes
  • Contra Costa College - kiln, materials
  • College of Marin Jewelry Dept - enamels
  • Creative Side Jewelry Academy of Austin - kiln, materials
  • EMU Craft Center University of Oregon - enamels
  • Glassell School of Art - kiln (partial)
  • Littleton Studio School - kiln, materials
  • North Seattle Community College - kiln, materials
  • Springfield Art Association - materials

2009

  • Arkansas Craft School - kiln
  • Beverly Street Studio - class set-up
  • Great Lakes Enamel Guild - library set-up
  • High Meadows School - class set-up
  • Houston Center for Contemporary Craft - kiln
  • Oak Ridge Community Center - class set-up
  • Racine Art Museum - kiln
  • Spruill Center for the Arts - kiln

2008

  • EG/South - class support
  • Georgian Youth - kiln
  • Marsh Society - kiln

2007

  • Art Center Manatee - kiln; class set-up
  • Colorado Rocky Mt. School - workshop
  • Enamel Guild of Creative Arts - symposium
  • Grunewald Guild - class support
  • Northville High School - kiln
  • Tryon Arts & Crafts - class support

2006

  • Academy of Art University - kiln
  • The Crucible - improve enamel studio
  • Mt. Regional Arts & Crafts - kiln; class set-up
  • Richmond Art Center - class support
  • EG/NE - enameling promotion
  • Gould Academy - workshop support

2005

  • Brookline Art Center - class support
  • Cape Cod Museum of Art - class support
  • EG/South - class set-up
  • Richmond Art Center - class support
  • Seattle Girls School - class support
  • Washington State Enamelists - experimental work in enameling

2004

  • Baum School - class support
  • Cape Cod Museum of Art - class set-up
  • The Crucible - workshop
  • NCEG - exhibit promotion
  • Seattle Girls School - class support
  • Valley Art Center - event promotion

2006