Bienenstock Furniture Library adds John Black Scholarship to student awards

HIGH POINT – The Bienenstock Furniture Library has announced the addition of the John Black Scholarship, honoring life and work of John Black, a furniture designer who passed away December 2021.

Black began his career as a furniture designer while attending Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan and founded J Black Design in 2000 with his wife. He designed furniture collections for many luxury brands including Baker, Century, Councill, Ethan Allen, Hancock & Moore, Hickory Chair, Kravet and Vanguard. He also was a regular visitor to the Bienenstock Furniture Library throughout his career.

Established by Black’s wife and business partner, Joyce Black, the scholarship is funded by the family and contributions from friends and colleagues. The scholarship will be awarded at the second annual Bienenstock Future Designers Summit for students this fall.

Set for Sep. 21-23, the next Bienenstock Future Designers Summit will help prepare up to 40 students, representing a variety of academic design disciplines from colleges and universities across the U.S., for future careers in the furnishings sector.

The John Black Scholarship and the Broyhill Family Foundation Scholarship each will be awarded to one student at the close of the event. Each scholarship is worth $5,000.

Earlier this month, the library kicked off a fundraising campaign to support its growing student learning initiative. The invitation to contribute industry sponsorships and donations is open through March.

Outside of future scholarship funding, contributors making donations for the 2022 summit event will help to offset the costs of travel, accommodation and meals for each student attendee, as well as to cover expenses for program development and marketing.

To learn more, visit the Future Designers Summit page located on the Bienenstock Furniture Library website.

Contributors for the 2022 Bienenstock Future Designers Summit to date include the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Foundation, International Market Centers, High Point Market Authority, Universal Furniture, Savour Partnership, Otto & Moore Inc., Davis Furniture, Crypton LLC, 220 Elm, Catherine and Richard Frinier, Century Furniture/Rock House Farm Family of Brands, Gwen Emery and Nancy Fire Designs.