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ABANA National Curriculum
Three levels.One instructor for all of them.
The Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America's structured program of study, taught and evaluated at VIB on designated Mondays.
The VIB format
Core Mondays, lab Tuesdays
Core lessons run eight hours on designated Mondays, followed by optional lab time on Tuesdays. All levels are taught together on the second Monday of the month, as available, whenever another class is not already booked that week. The class schedule shows every core day.
Lab hours are $10 an hour. You do not have to take every lesson or use every lab hour: some students practice in their home shops instead. Progress and project evaluations at VIB always take place during lab hours.
The program is self-paced, so a class is only needed when you want help with a difficult technique, direction, refinement or grading. Students should expect some access to a drill press, a machinist vise, a welder and an oxy-fuel system.
About the curriculum
A departurepoint
ABANA's core mission is to perpetuate the noble art of blacksmithing. The National Curriculum is modeled on the program of the California Blacksmith Association, an ABANA affiliate, which shared it.
Open to all
Anyone can learn from the curriculum, and you do not need to be an ABANA member. Members who complete a level receive a diploma, and membership is required to become an instructor.
Accredited instruction
Just as there are three levels, there are three instructor accreditations. Dale Morse is accredited to teach and evaluate all three.
Level 1: the gate latch
The first level introduces blacksmithing and ends with the farm gate latch and a safety test. Completing it is required before level II.
Book acore day
Bring your questions, your work in progress, or your gate latch for evaluation.