Future Lights in Ceramics – the competition

Future Lights is an annual competition for people at an early stage in their career with ceramics. The aim of the competition is to support people in their careers, to encourage cross-disciplinary learning and approaches and to promote ceramics to younger audiences. The competition is a part of the European Ceramics and its Dimensions project and it is run by Porzellanikon and co-organised by Staffordshire University, the Design and Craft Council of Ireland and the British Ceramics Biennial. So far three competitions have been organised, see the winners on the artist page.

The Theme 2018: Go green – Ceramics and the Environment

In 2018, the Future Lights theme is: Go green – Ceramics and the Environment. This year the judges want to discover talented early career professionals who are exploring questions of sustainability, ecology and resource-saving in both production and use. Read more about the theme here. The following aspects are important in the judgemental process: relevant experience and expertise, the quality of the work evidenced, how well the work responses to the theme and the ability of the applicant to be an ambassador for European ceramics and to inspire others.

The Future Lights in Ceramics – Applicants

The applicants can be e.g. artists, artisans, designers, historians, art historians, museum curators or researchers who work with ceramics. There is no age limit but applicants should have completed their main full-time studies within the last five years and they must be resident in EU or associated states. Applicants should have expertise, experience or innovative ideas that respond to the theme. Applications will be shortlisted and 18 finalists will be invited to present their work to a panel of judges at Kilkenny Castle (UK) in September 2018. The finalists get the chance to visit Ceramics Ireland’s International Festival at Thomastown.

The Future Lights in Ceramics – Winners

6 competition winners will be invited to attend a workshop where participants collaborate across disciplines and develop new work. They are also invited to showcase their work at high profile events across Europe through the wider Ceramics and its Dimensions project. Since summer 2017 the Future Light in Ceramics winners have for example been traveling around Europe with the Ceramics and its Dimensions: Shaping the Future exhibition. In February 2019, the winners will exhibit their work at Ambiente fair, the world’s most important consumer goods trade fair that is attended by more than 134,000 trade visitors from over 150 countries.

The application process

Applications must be submitted in English by March 31st 2018. The following information has to be sent with WeTransfer to jana.goebel(at)porzellanikon.org:

1. Personal details: Name, address, email address, website, social media links
2. A brief biography in the 3rd person (50 words)
3. Personal CV
4. A statement about your work e.g. artist’s statement (100 words)
5. A response to this year’s theme (250 words)
6. Why you think you’d be a good ambassador for ceramics (250 words)
7. Up to 5 photos of your work (printing size at a maximum 21 x 29,7 cm), published articles or research papers
8. Confirmation that you have read the Terms & Conditions

All 8 items should be included in ONE pdf file in the order given above and named as follows: Surname_First Name_FLapplication_2019 (e. g. Goebel_Jana_FLapplication_2019.pdf)

If you have any access or support needs, please get in touch with Jana Göbel from Porzellanikon (jana.goebel(at)porzellanikon.org / +49 9287 91800 614).

Porzellanikon will contact all applicants in July 2018 to inform them of the outcome of their application.

The Jury

The jury is chaired by Wilhelm Siemen, the director of Porzellanikon, and comprises representatives from partners in the Ceramics and its Dimensions project.

• Iain Cartwright, British Ceramics Biennial
• Franz Chen, Franz Porcelain, Taiwan
• Dr. Jaume Coll Conesa, Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias “González Martí”
• Dr. Biljana Djordjević, National Museum Belgrade
• Assistant Professor Dr. Mateja Kos, Narodni muzej Slovenije
• Nathalie Lautenbacher, Aalto University
• Kai Lobjakas, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn
• Gus Mableson, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland
• Professor Barbara Schmidt, Kunsthochschule Berlin
• John Tynan, Design and Crafts Council of Ireland
• Professor David Sanderson, Staffordshire University
• Rachel Dickson, Ulster University

More Information!

For more information go to: futurelights.ceramicsanditsdimensions.eu

Contact person / Aalto University: Priska Falin (priska.falin(at)aalto.fi)

Contact person / Porzellanikon: Jana Göbel: jana.goebel(at)porzellanikon.org

Future Lights on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CandIDUK/

Future Lights on Twitter: @CeramicsProject