Ceramic Values
5-6 October 2017
Stoke on Trent
CERAMIC VALUES
Can Ceramics make a difference? (5-6 October 2017) is the culmination of Ceramics and its Dimensions, an initiative involving 19 European partners. The Congress, led by Ulster University, aims to add to the debate about the value and role of ceramics in society and will present the full range of in-depth findings of the project’s 10 module teams since 2015.
It will examine 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 will be present and contribute to Congress proceedings. The Congress will take place on the occasion of the 5th British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent and sessions will be held at both the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery and the BCB’s former Spode site. The Congress is free and open to all. We look forward to welcoming you to Stoke on Trent. You can choose to register for the whole Congress or select particular days.
Call for papers
Ulster University module team invited papers and proposals for lecture and event based presentations under the following headings to be delivered during the Congress across a number of venues. It was intended that the Congress presentations should respond to one of the general themes:
Skills: In an age of rapid developments in technologies, what role and significance have skills and tradition?
Value: What do we deem to be important now in Ceramics? What contribution can ceramics really make to the broader society?
Place: As our traditional centres of ceramics across Europe evolve, what significance has place in ceramics today? Can ceramics make a difference to the idea of place?
Format for a reaction to these themes could be a lecture, a performance or an exhibition. The Ceramics and its Dimensions Module 10 Congress is timed to occur during the programmed events of the British Ceramics Biennial in October 2017 to create an invigorating and challenging visual experience for all those involved or curious about ceramics.
The Congress submissions have been reviewed by the following partners:
- Aalto University, Finland
- British Ceramics Biennial, UK
- Porzellanikon – Staatliches Museum für Porzellan, Germany
- Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, UK
- Staffordshire University, UK
- Ulster University, UK
Venues
The Congress will be held between 5-6 October 2017 at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery and the British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke on Trent, UK.
Directions to each site can be found on the following links:
Potteries Museum and Art Gallery
Registration
Register for Ceramic Values via Get Invited
Programme
Confirmed sessions focus on the following topics: Ceramics and Education; Place, Embodiment and Material Engagement; Analogue and Digital craft; Professionalism: Building a Career in Ceramics; Ceramics, Tradition and Heritage; Ceramics, Wellbeing and Museum Engagement; and Ceramics and Museum Collections. Sessions at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery will be complemented by a parallel programme of gallery talks, exhibits and workshops at the BCB’s Spode site.
Keynote speakers include Claudia Casali, Director of the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, ceramic artists Neil Brownsword and Keith Harrison, Franz Chen, founder and CEO of Franz Porcelain and Jay Thakkar, Head of the Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
Venue information
Capacity: Lecture Theatre - 300, Learning Suite - 50, Board Room - 40
PMAG – Potteries Museum and Art Gallery
BCB – British Ceramics Biennial Spode Factory site
Thursday 5 October
| Time | Venue | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 9am | PMAG | Congress registration opens at Potteries Museum and Art Gallery Registration Tea,coffee |
| 9.30am | Lecture Theatre | Welcome to Congress Mr Wilhelm Siemen and representatives from PMAG/BCB/Ulster/Stoke City Council |
| 10am - 12pm | Lecture Theatre | Keynote 1 – Can ceramics make a difference? Chair: TBC Claudia Casali, International Museum of Ceramics, FaenzaWhen ceramics make a difference Neil Brownsword, Bucks New University and University of BergenNeil Brownsword Factory |
| PMAG | Désirée Neeb, Porzellanikon – Staatliches Museum für Porzellan Prop Ceramics and their Relevance in movies and commercials This interactive touchscreen will be available throughout the Congress | |
| 12pm - 1pm | PMAG | Lunch |
| 1pm - 3pm | Lecture Theatre | Session 1: Ceramics and its Dimensions Module Round Table Discussion Chair: Wilhelm Siemen, Porzellanikon - Staatliches Museum für Porzellan Each CAID Module will report back on their activities. |
| 3pm - 3.30pm | PMAG | Tea/coffee |
| 3.30pm - 5.30pm | Lecture Theatre | Session 2 – Ceramics and education Chair: Maarit Mäkelä, Aalto University Barbara Schmidt, Art Academy Berlin Weißensee Detours to Ceramic Futures - Experimental approaches to ceramic materials from a product design view Ayşe Güler, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Şirin Koçak Özeskici, Usak University Educational Values in the Ceramic Arts and Literacy for Life David Sanderson, Staffordshire University Teaching principles and methodologies Emma Lacey, Central Saint Martins What Can Ceramics Do? |
| 3.30pm - 5.30pm | Learning Suite | Session 3 – Ceramics, tradition and heritage Chair: Martin Brown, Staffordshire University Biljana Djordjević, National Museum in Belgrade Pottery Technology – The Value of Intangible Cultural Heritage Valentin Petjko, Daugavpils Clay Art Centre Significance of Place in Ceramics: Latvian experience Mateja Kos and Rudolf Saša, National Museum of Slovenia Ceramics and Tradition Anna Francis, Staffordshire University Community Maker and the Portland Inn Project |
| 3.30pm - 5.30pm | Board Room | Session 4 – Analogue and digital craft Chair: Dan Lewis, Staffordshire University Tavs Jorgensen, University of West England Jugstrusions: Technological (in) determinism and the value of material knowledge Babette Wiezorek, Art Academy Berlin Weißensee Technology, Material and the Emergence of Form Yihui Wang, National Taipei University of Technology The Development of Contemporary Taiwanese Ceramic Ware: Craft, Design and Industry |
| 6pm - 8pm | BCB | AWARD Exhibition Event at BCB Spode site |
Friday 6 October
| Time | Venue | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 9am - 9.30am | PMAG | Congress registration opens at Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
| 9.30am - 10.50am | Lecture Theatre | Keynote 2 – Can Ceramics make a difference? Chair: TBC Keith Harrison, Bath Spa University Interactive & performative ceramics in the public realm Franz Chen, Franz Collection Inc Modern China: building a career in ceramics |
| 10.50am | Short break | |
| 11am - 12pm | Lecture Theatre | Keynote 3 – Can ceramics make a difference? Chair: TBC Jay Thakkar, CEPT University A synergistic creative approach in warli craft practices through the Heart:Beat project Laura Breen, Independent researcher Re-locating ceramics |
| 12pm - 1pm | PAMG | Lunch |
| 1pm - 3pm | Lecture Theatre | Session 5 – Ceramics, place and materiality Chair: Barbara Schmidt, Art Academy Berlin Weißensee Maarit Mäkelä, Aalto University In dialogue with the earth: creativity, materiality and place Natasha Mayo, Cardiff Metropolitan University Civic Ceramics Tuuli Saarelainen, Saija Halko and Hanna-Kaarina Heikkilä, Aalto University Spirit of the place Mandy Parslow, Limerick School of Art and Design A sense of place: the expressive vessel in contemporary ceramic practice |
| 1pm - 3pm | Learning Suite | Session 6 – Ceramics, wellbeing and museum engagement Chair: Laura Breen, Independent researcher Fiona Green, York Museums Trust How public ceramic collections can be used for the education, enjoyment and wellbeing of the 21st century visitor and why using ceramics in this way contributes to a happier, healthier society Ann Van Hoey, Independent artist Changing social dynamics with ceramics Rachel Conroy, Leeds Museums and Galleries Emotional responses to ceramics in a museum environment: 'Fragile?' and 'Quietus' Bret Shah, Independent artist Accessible Aesthetics |
| 1pm - 3pm | Board Room | Session 7 – Ceramic collections and object biographies Chair: TBC Biljana Crvenković, Museum of Applied Art, Belgrade Porcelain as Heritage: The Belgrade Buffon service Ian Jackson, Staffordshire University A tale of the old pioneer: evidence of Josiah Wedgwood’s Entrepreneurial Spirit and Commercial Exploitation from the Wedgwood Collection Ulrika Schaeder and Marika Bogren, Nationalmuseum, Sweden Anchoring a Ceramic Treasure Sue Blatherwick, Independent researcher The materiality and narratives within a bread crock |
| 3pm - 3.30pm | PMAG | Tea/coffee |
| 3.30pm - 4.30pm | Lecture Theatre | Session 8 – Professionalism: Building a career in Ceramics Chair: Franz Chen Sabrina Vasulka, Rhiannon Ewing-James, Wendy Ward, Karolina Bednorz, Monika Müller and Maria Juchnowska, former FUTURE LIGHTS contestants |
| 4.30pm - 5.30pm | Lecture Theatre | Session 9 – Plenary Chair: Wilhelm Siemen |
Thursday 5 October BCB Parallel Sessions - shuttle bus from PMAG
| Time | Venue | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 3.30pm - 5.30pm | BCB | BCB Session 1 – Exploring place through clay Chair: BCB Ian McIntyre, Independent artist Brown Betty: The archetypal teapot (gallery talk, 20 mins) Peter Jones, Independent artist Contained Process (gallery talk, 20 mins) Dena Bagi, BCB Priska Falin, Aalto University Material Place: how do the qualities of clay help (individuals/groups) explore (their) place? (workshop, 60 mins) Jo Ayre, BCB Can Ceramics make a difference to the idea of Place? (workshop, 60 mins) Cj O’Neill,Manchester Metropolitan University The Reader (interactive artwork) |
Friday 6 October BCB Parallel Sessions - shuttle bus from and to PMAG
| Time | Venue | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 2pm - 4pm | BCB | BCC Session 2 – Shaping the Future Chair: BCB Nathalie Lautenbacher, Aalto University Thoughts on The Tabletop – Food Related Design (gallery talk, 20 mins) Anna van der Lei and Kristos Mavrostomos, CHIL-DISH / Studio Hän CHIL-DISH project (gallery talk, 20 mins) Alison Howell, Burgess and Leigh Ltd (Burleigh x CFPR) + KTP: How an academic-industry partnership can work to both innovate and preserve traditional ceramic processes (gallery talk, 20 mins) |
| 4pm | PMAG | Return to PMAG for Plenary |
Travel and Accommodation
By Rail
Stoke-on-Trent is a major intercity rail route, directly linked to Manchester (35 minutes), Birmingham (45 minutes) and London (90 minutes). Virgin Trains and Cross Country operate high-speed trains. Northern Rail and London Midland provide local and regional services. For information on tickets and timetables visit National Rail. Stoke-on-Trent station is a 5-minute walk from the original Spode site in Stoke-on-Trent Town Centre and a 30-minute walk from The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in the City Centre (Hanley).
By Car
The M6 motorway connects into the city through major dual carriageways. Visit AA Route Planner, to find how to get to the Congress from where you are.
For The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery follow signs for City Centre or Cultural Quarter from the A500.
The original Spode Works Visitor Centre is signposted from the A500. These signs will take you to the Elenora Street side of the site. The main entrance for BCB is via Kingsway, which has a large public car park. The satnav postcode for this car park is ST4 1JB.
By Bus
First bus services 23/ 23a /3 are ideal to travel to and from the original Spode site, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and AirSpace Gallery.
The route is: Stoke, Glebe Street – Stoke, Rail Station– City Centre Bus Station (Hanley). The service operates every 10 minutes and takes 10 minutes from Stoke to the City Centre (Hanley).
By Air
Over 100 airlines fly into regional airports within a one-hour transfer. For more information about flights and transfer rail links to Stoke-on-Trent, visit Manchester International Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Birmingham Airport and East Midlands Airport.
Parking
The closest car park for the original Spode site is on Kingsway. This pay and display car park is just across the road from the BCB entrance to the original Spode site. The postcode for Kingsway is ST4 1JB.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery has limited disabled parking onsite, however there are several car parks within a short walking distance of the museum and parking meters on Bethesda Street, Warner Street and at the nearby Tesco Extra, which is free for 2-hours. Please see parking locations and charges for the City Centre.
Accommodation
More information about Stoke and Trent, including accommodation, can be found on the Visit Stoke website here.
