Milford High School is proud to share that the Mass Cultural Council has awarded Ms. Anne Snyder, Art Teacher, a $5,000 grant in support of courses offered at Milford High School in jewelry making and metalsmithing. This is the second grant in the past year that Ms. Snyder has been awarded in support of growing and expanding these course offerings.

Milford High School offers a jewelry and small metalsmithing course for high school students, providing hands-on workshops in soldering, casting, stone setting, and metal fabrication. Designed for students of all skill levels, the course blends technical training with creative exploration while also introducing design history, cultural context, and material science. Enrichment opportunities may include field trips to studios, galleries, or museums, as well as guest lectures from industry professionals. 

Grant funding generously provided by the Mass Cultural Council will directly support the purchase of essential tools, materials, and equipment for the course. No fees will be collected from participants, ensuring full access for all students. By eliminating financial barriers, the program provides equitable opportunities for students to engage in the creative, technical, and professional practices of jewelry and metalsmithing.

Ms. Anne Snyder, Art & Design Teacher at Milford High School, stated, “The program is designed to be very inclusive. Instruction will be available in multiple formats, including visual demonstrations, written guides, and captioned videos. Tools and workspaces will be adapted for accessibility. Flexible pacing, peer support, and one-on-one assistance will ensure that all students can actively participate, regardless of ability.”

Serving approximately 115 students in grades 9–12, the course will build craftsmanship, creativity, and confidence while fostering problem-solving, collaboration, and social-emotional skills. Students will learn how jewelry and metalsmithing connect to related fields such as design, engineering, and the trades, gaining valuable exposure to career pathways.

“Milford High School students have a wide range of interests,” said Mr. Josh Otlin, Principal of Milford High School.  “We are proud to be able to offer students an opportunity to explore these interests while learning valuable skills that allow them to showcase their incredible creativity.  Not many high schools in the area offer this type of programming.  We are grateful to the Mass Cultural Council and their support for art education.”

The course will culminate in a final exhibition where students showcase their original jewelry and metal artworks, with the option to sell their pieces. 

Submitted by Milford Public Schools

More about the Mass Cultural Council: The Mass Cultural Council advances the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector by celebrating traditions and talents, championing its collective needs, and equitably investing public resources. The Council pursues this mission through a wide range of grants, initiatives, and advocacy for artists, communities, and organizations. Mass Cultural Council receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. In turn, Mass Cultural Council makes thousands of grants directly to cultural organizations, schools, communities, and individual artists, through funding programs that use arts, science, and the humanities to build strong, diverse, livable communities. The beneficiaries of these programs comprise a cross-section of the population and citizens in each Massachusetts city and town.