For this year’s Community Project at the 2026 Conference, we assisted the historic Gibbes Museum of Art with the restoration of two antique frames.
A special thank you to our wonderful sponsor, Sepp Leaf, and to Compleat Sculptor, for their generous donation of materials for this project. Take a look at the remarkable before-and-after below!

Additionally, the Society of Gilders hosted a Kids Gilding Event on Wednesday, June 17, at the Gibbes Museum of Art, where children were introduced to the art and history of gilding. Participants enjoyed a live presentation by Richard Walker of Watergild Studios in Hampshire, England, who shared insights into the history of gilding and its modern-day applications.

The children then created and decorated their own miniature gilded frames, gaining hands-on experience with traditional gilding techniques.

 

We ended the morning with a tour of the museum, exploring examples of gilding and decorative frames featured in the artwork on display.

This educational program was made possible in part through the generous support of our sponsor, Easy Leaf. Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation of gilders!