Runs from September 30th to November 13th @ Stoke-On-Trent
BCB showcases excellence and the best of contemporary practice by makers and artists across the UK, building significant partnerships with other major festivals and centres for ceramic research, and making significant European partnerships. At the heart of the British Ceramics Biennial is AWARD at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, a major exhibition of work by artists, potters and designers working at the creative leading edge of contemporary ceramics practice. From the 28 finalists exhibited, one winner will be awarded a £10,000 prize. We’re delighted to welcome Spode, part of the Portmeirion Group, as the sponsor of this Award, and also the Spode Room, making them our leading sponsor partner in 2011. On the historic listed site of the original Spode Pottery factory in Stoke Town, FRESH will showcase the work of 40 recent UK graduates. FRESH will also highlight the Crafts Council’s “Firing Up” project to re-invigorate the learning of ceramics in secondary schools. ReFRESH will showcase examples of ground-breaking ceramic research. One of the largest shop floors at the original Spode site will be the home of A Great Wall. This large-scale installation will feature tableware to technical ceramics, highlighting the diversity, innovation and creativity of the UK ceramic industry. A new body of work by acclaimed ceramic artist Phil Eglin, Mould Store will see the artist re-use and reclaim the discarded ceramic moulds from the nine remaining stores at the original Spode site. Eglin joins five other artists who will create specific responses to the factory buildings to allow visitors to explore the ten-acre site. The work of ten international artists including Tony Cragg, Hella Jongerus, Betty Woodman and Anne Ausioos, produced during residencies at the European Ceramics Work Centre, will be brought to Stoke-on-Trent for Sunday Morning @EKWC. The exhibition is co-curated by Neil Brownsword, an internationally acclaimed artist from Stoke-on-Trent and winner of the overall 2009 BCB Award. OPEN will see the area’s museums, galleries and ceramic industries with their own programme across three weekends during the festival.Visit their website for all the details.
* Update – here‘s an article from the Guardian on the events.
