The Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA) is a community of blacksmiths, artisans, and enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation and the advancement of blacksmithing as both profession and hobby. We strive to provide opportunities for individuals and local affiliate organizations to further their blacksmithing education, strengthen their skills, and hone their craft. Showcasing the rich and vibrant work of modern smiths, while providing historical context, is central to our mission as we work to increase awareness of the art and craft amongst design professionals, architects, and the public.
The Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing technical skills and design excellence in the blacksmith community.
We offer education workshops, technical and art publications, grants, awards, conferences, and exhibitions honoring the metal arts.
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ABANA has set a National Standard for Blacksmith Education: The National Curriculum teaches three skill levels of blacksmithing using traditional projects.
Level I Level II Level III Instructors
ABANA provides you with a wealth of educational information through our Publications and here on our website.
Getting Started: Blacksmithing 101
Controlled Hand Forging Lessons
Blacksmith’s Journal Articles
ABANA offers educational Grants for individuals and for Affiliates. And we are there for our family when things go awfully wrong.
Affiliate Grants Individual Grants Disaster Relief Application
The Anvil’s Ring is ABANA’s primary publication, issued quarterly to members, filled with sixty pages of interesting articles, tips, historical notes, photos of members’ work, supplier ads, book reviews and event information.
Hammer’s Blow is issued to members quarterly. In it you will find twenty four pages of How-to Articles, From the Editor, Notices, and Classified Ads. This educational counterpart to The Anvil’s Ring gives you that extra instruction you need.
Looking to advertise with us? The Anvil’s Ring and The Hammer’s Blow, premier publications of the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America, delivers your message quarterly to the blacksmith community, which is comprised of professionals, amateurs and artists.
Local affiliates are the life-blood of the blacksmithing community. There are approximately 90 ABANA affiliate groups around the globe and we encourage you to seek out one close to you and to join!
Find an Affiliate
This section is aimed at the leadership of the various ABANA Affiliate Organizations. Our collection of information and resources are to help support your organization and keep communication flowing.
Resources for Affiliate Leadership
All submissions will be reviewed for inclusion on our website's Smiths to Remember page. In the event that there are multiple submissions for the same person, we will attempt to blend together all information received into one tribute and note the names of all who submitted as contributors to the memorial tribute. ABANA reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, readability, factual information, and length, however we will do our best to honor the spirit of your words.
47 Walnut Street Suite 200, Johnstown, PA 15901
Phone: 1.814.254.4817
Email: info@abana.org