Walk into Boulder Metalsmithing Association on any given day, and you'll find something unexpected: a total beginner sitting elbow to elbow with a career metalsmith, both bent over their benches, torches in hand, completely absorbed. This is the magic of BoMA—a nonprofit studio tucked into the NoBo Art District where fire, metal, and community come together in ways that feel increasingly rare.
"You never know who you're going to be at the bench next to, or what you might learn from them," says Executive Director Claire Gormley. "That's the magic of it."
BoMA started in 2009 as a humble meetup group founded by Beth Merckel, where local metalsmiths could get together and exchange ideas in the jewelry metal world. By 2013, the organization became a formal 501(c)(3) nonprofit and launched Enhancing Art Through Metalsmithing, a program training public school art teachers in metalsmithing techniques to bring back to their classrooms. In 2015, BoMA opened its studio doors in NoBo—and just celebrated ten years in the district.
When Beth stepped down as Executive Director in early 2025, Claire stepped in. A metalsmith, jewelry maker, and small business owner who first came to BoMA as a student and later served on the board, she brings a deep personal connection to the organization's mission.
"I knew there was a big legacy to uphold," she says. "This is such a critical space for local metalsmiths, and keeping that community vibrant and welcoming is my biggest priority."
That commitment shows in the numbers. In 2025, BoMA offered 64 workshops with 356 class enrollments, grew to 273 members, and welcomed 37 artists into its shared Open Studio access—a professional space where metalsmiths work independently with top-quality tools. For 2026, the studio is expanding from monthly to daily Open Studio access to give members even more flexibility.
But the impact reaches well beyond BoMA's walls. Through its Enhancing Art Through Metalsmithing initiative, 12 public school art teachers participated in training last year, collectively reaching 1,131 students with hands-on metalsmithing lessons and projects. Three scholarships helped reduce financial barriers for artists and educators alike.
"Metalsmithing is the ultimate antidote to screen time and our busy world," Claire explains. "It forces you to slow down, think in three dimensions, and solve puzzles with your hands in real-time. There's a certain thrill to working with fire and metal—once you get started, it's hard to stop, no matter what age you start at."
That philosophy drives everything at BoMA, from beginner workshops to the soldering stations Claire calls the true heart of the studio. Flammable gases at home present a real barrier for many metalsmiths. By providing a safe, fully equipped bench space, BoMA opens doors for artists that might otherwise stay closed.
The organization takes pride in being community-sustained. 75 percent of its income comes directly from students, studio members, and class participants. Grant funders, including SCFD, the Boulder Arts Commission, and Colorado Creative Industries, help fill in the gaps—but it's the people showing up, sitting down at the bench, and making things that keep BoMA running.
That community extends beyond the studio, too. Jewelry pop-ups at local favorite locations, including an upcoming event at Low Rider in Hygiene, give members a supportive environment to share and sell their work publicly. And, let’s not forget NoBo First Fridays at NoBo Art District, aka the Emerald City, as a place to meet the community.
Claire's goal for 2026 is to surpass 300 members, but the deeper mission stays the same. "We're dedicated to reaching people who felt metalsmithing was out of reach and showing them they have a seat at our benches," she says.
Behind it all is a small but mighty team: talented instructors sharing their craft at every level and a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors. Then there's the unofficial Emotional Support Staff—Claire's two studio dogs and a revolving pack of members' pups who ensure nobody at BoMA takes themselves too seriously.
Whether you're a seasoned metalsmith or someone who's never picked up a torch, BoMA has a place for you.
Visit BoulderMetalsmiths.com to learn more and for class schedules, and follow @bouldermetalsmithing on Instagram for a glimpse inside the studio. Or, better yet, experience BoMA firsthand at their upcoming Art Show “Forged in Community” in partnership with Low Rider and Boulder Lifestyle Magazine, April 10-12 at the Low Rider Gallery in Hygiene. Come meet the artists, support a timeless craft, and see what happens when a community gathers around the bench.
"You never know who you'll be at the bench with or what you'll learn."
"Metalsmithing is the ultimate antidote to screen time and our busy world. It forces you to slow down, think in three dimensions, and solve puzzles with your hands in real-time."
"We're dedicated to reaching people who felt metalsmithing was out of reach and showing them they have a seat at our benches."