The New York State Designer Blacksmiths (NYSDB), a 501, c, 3 non-profit corporation, was founded in 1982 after the Ripley, WV conference of the Artist-Blacksmiths Association of North America (ABANA). It is currently an affiliate of ABANA. The N.Y.S.D.B. Organization is set up on a regional basis, with five regions around the state. The local smiths, under the leadership of a forgemaster set up the regional meetings. The regions meet monthly. There are three meetings a year where all of the regions get together for demonstrations, hammer-in activities, and a business meeting. The five regions are: Adirondack Genesee, Mohawk, Niagara, and Southern Tier Regions. The membership dues are $20 a year with a $10 initiation fee. Members are welcome to attend any of the meetings, but usually join the closest region so they get local meeting notices.

For information about the calendars for the all-member meeting and the regional meetings, use the links on the left below.  All-member meetings are for members only.   Interested individuals may visit two regional meetings without paying a fee.  If they wish to continue, they must join NYSDB.  There is a membership application on the Membership page.  Scholarship information and application is on the Scholarship page.

Mission Statement

NYSDB is primarily educational and its purposes are: To encourage and facilitate the establishment of training programs for aspiring blacksmiths; to disseminate information about sources of material and equipment; to expose the art of blacksmithing to the public; to serve as a center of information about blacksmiths for architects, interior designers , other interested groups, and the general public.

Last revised on:June 26, 2008