The British Ceramics Biennial returns to Stoke-on-Trent this autumn. Building on the success of the inaugural festival in 2009, this international cultural event, taking place from 30 September to 13 November, will continue to present the very best in contemporary ceramics. Six weeks of celebrations will include exhibitions, site-specific installations, artist residencies and creative responses to the region’s industrial and architectural heritage.
The historic listed site of the former Spode Pottery factory will form the creative hub of the 2011 festival, with a mass of exhibitions, events and installations. Other events and exhibitions will take place at venues in the City Centre, with a special programme of talks, seminars, films, and workshops animating the festival.
Co-Directors of the British Ceramics Biennial Barney Hare Duke and Jeremy Theophilus comment: ‘We are delighted to be given the opportunity to present the second Biennial for Stoke-on-Trent, which we are confident will continue to fascinate and excite new audiences for ceramics as well as revealing the potential of the city itself as a centre for innovation and an international profile as a world ceramic city.’
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 in the UK. From the 28 finalists exhibited, one winner will be awarded a £10,000 prize at an event to celebrate the Biennial on 21 October.
On the former Spode factory site in Stoke Town, FRESH will showcase the work of 40 recent UK graduates, together with a spotlight on six ground-breaking post-graduate research programmes, representing the vitality of current emerging ceramic artists in an exhibition that makes use of the redundant furniture and equipment from the factory buildings as an integral part of the display. FRESH will also highlight the Crafts Council’s “Firing Up” project to re-invigorate the learning of ceramics in secondary schools. ReFRESH will give visitors opportunity to see examples of ground-breaking ceramic research by post graduate students.
One of the largest shop floors on the former Spode site will be the home of A Great Wall. This large-scale installation will feature a mass of selected products pieces from across products from the breadth of the UK ceramic industry from tableware to technical ceramics, highlighting its diversity, innovation and creativity.
A new body of work by acclaimed Stoke-on-Trent-based ceramic artist Phil Eglin, Mould Store will see the artist reuse and reclaim the discarded ceramic moulds from the nine remaining stores at Spode. Eglin joins five other artists who will create specific responses to the factory buildings to allow visitors to explore the ten-acre site. Elgin’s work for the Biennial is a result of the Artists into Heritage programme launched at British Ceramics Biennial 2009.
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 looks at the results of artistic experimentation and potential benefit to Stoke-on-Trent of a similar centre of excellence. The exhibition is co-curated by Neil Brownsword, an internationally acclaimed artist from Stoke-on-Trent overall winner of a 2009 BCB Award.
An associated programme OPEN will see the area’s museums, galleries and ceramic industries complement the Biennial with their own ceramics-inspired programme across three weekends during the festival.
Tristram Hunt, MP for Stoke-on-Trent, comments: ‘Stoke-on-Trent is a world famous city with a rich and diverse history. One of my priorities is to see Stoke Town regenerated, and the British Ceramics Biennial has an important part to play in this. It will bring more media and business interest to our great ceramics sector. I am hugely excited about the 2011 programme and how this cultural festival will benefit the city and the people who live here.’
Councillor Mark Meredith, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for economic development, comments: ‘Stoke-on-Trent is a city at the heart of the ceramics industry so it is only fitting that the festival not only celebrates ceramic art from across the globe but our home grown talent as well. The British Ceramics Biennial festival is in its second year now and this year’s programme is set to bring a unique mixture of exhibitions and opportunities. I hope people take the opportunity to get involved in the exciting workshops happening across the city.’
The British Ceramics Biennial takes place from 30 September to 13 November 2011 www.britishceramicsbiennial.com.
