Ceramic Values: Can ceramics make a difference?

Description

Can Ceramics make a difference? (5-6 October 2017) was the culmination of Ceramics and its Dimensions, a Creative Europe project involving over 20 European partner organisations. The Congress, led by Ulster University, and organised by Dr Christopher McHugh and Dr Pamela Topping, aimed to add to the debate about the value and role of ceramics in society and presented the full range of in-depth findings of the project’s 10 module teams since 2015. Ulster University worked closely with the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke City Council, Staffordshire University, and the British Ceramics Biennial to deliver the Congress. Conference submissions were peer reviewed by a committee, which included Ulster University, Aalto University, Staffordshire University, the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and the British Ceramics Biennial. Focusing on the three key themes of skills, values and place, the Congress examined the relationship between historic centres of manufacture and contemporary centres of learning, production and consumption. Representatives from all of the Ceramics and its Dimensions partners presented and contributed to the Congress proceedings. The Congress took place on the occasion of the 5th British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent and sessions were held at both the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery and the BCB’s former Spode site. The Congress was free and open to all. It was was attended by approximately 375 delegates from all over the UK, Ireland, Europe, India, China, Japan and Korea. There were 6 keynote lectures by esteemed guest from Europe, India and China, and 46 presenters were involved in delivering the following nine sessions: Ceramics and education; Ceramics, tradition and heritage; Analogue and digital craft; Ceramics, place and materiality; Ceramics, wellbeing and museum engagement; Ceramic collections and object biographies; Professionalism: Building a career in Ceramics; Exploring place through clay; and Shaping the Future.

Period	5 Oct 2017 - 6 Oct 2017
Event type	Conference
Location	Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	National