An exciting array of artists working in clay has been lined up for a high-profile event that takes place in Stoke-on-Trent every two years.
The 2023 programme has been announced for the BCB Festival, a contemporary ceramics extravaganza which will light up the city’s arts scene in the autumn.
The six-week celebration will be staged by the British Ceramics Biennial, a Stoke-based arts organisation with a vision to bring about change through clay.
This year the hub for the BCB Biennial exhibitions, installations and events will be All Saints Church in Hanley.
The historic venue – built “by the potters, for the potters,” will host two flagship exhibitions called Award and Fresh.
The Festival is a high point of round-the-year work by BCB to develop, sustain and expand innovative ceramics practice while improving lives together with artists and creative communities.
The single largest contemporary ceramics event in the UK, the biennial showcases artworks from the UK’s leading ceramicists alongside work by international artists.
Against a backdrop of Stoke’s industrial heritage it will display the creative potential of clay for storytelling, playfulness, risk-taking and activism.
In All Saints Church major new work by 10 of the UK’s most innovative ceramics artists will be presented as they compete for a £10,000 prize.
Other highlights of the Biennial will include Emilie Taylor’s use of heritage craft processes to create six large-scale pots referencing bottle kilns.
Previous Award winner Stephen Dixon will create an allegorical tile panel on the church altar.
Dorcas Casey’s sculptures will embody stories, myths and dreams, Nico Conti will playfully explore 3D printing and Leora Honeyman’s series of ‘witches’ stools will draw links between the cultural rejection of neuro- divergence and the persecution of women with healing and magical power.
Building on BCB’s long-standing collaborations in Stoke-on-Trent, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery will house a new commission by multidisciplinary artist and writer Osman Yousefzada.
BCB will also run a Festival talks programme, which will include contributions from the Award artists and a series of round-table discussions as part of the Talent Development Programme.
The British Ceramics Biennial takes place from 23 September to 5 November.
Instagram: @british_ceramics_biennial
Facebook: /britishceramics.biennial
