International ceramics symposium starts today in Stoke
Two-day free event showcases the city’s global ceramic heritage
A major international ceramics symposium starts in Stoke-on-Trent today, bringing together leading academics and industry experts to celebrate the city’s global influence in design, creativity, and innovation.
The Legacy and Continuity: International Ceramic Symposium takes place over two days at Stoke Town Hall and the Spode Museum. The event is free to attend, thanks to National Lottery funding, and is one of the key highlights of Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since the city gained its official status.
The symposium, organised by Dr Alasdair Brooks of Re-form Heritage and Professor Neil Brownsword from the University of Staffordshire, is being held in partnership with Jingdezhen Ceramic University in China’s historic porcelain capital.
Building on a recent agreement between Stoke-on-Trent and Jingdezhen to collaboratively advance ceramic knowledge and creativity, the symposium will shine a global spotlight on the city’s significant heritage and its position as the world capital of ceramics.
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Hosting this international symposium in our Centenary year is a proud moment for the city.
"It places Stoke-on-Trent firmly where it belongs - at the heart of global ceramics research - and celebrates the skills, innovation and creativity that define our city’s story."
Across the next two days, attendees will hear from international speakers, examine the cultural and technological dimensions of historic ceramic production, and explore the origins and enduring influence of iconic designs such as the Willow Pattern.
Neil Brownsword, Professor of Ceramics at the University of Staffordshire, said: “A distinguished line-up of international scholars will gather for a landmark symposium exploring historic ceramic production through the lenses of design history and archaeology. Legacy and Continuity promises to be a unique forum for critical interdisciplinary discussion, uniting experts from across the globe to examine the region’s rich ceramic heritage.
“Leading voices in their respective fields will offer new perspectives on the social, cultural, and technological dimensions of ceramic production in North Staffordshire and examine its historic reach and cultural influence as a global centre of production.”
Dr Alasdair Brooks, Chief Executive of Re-form Heritage, added: “The Legacy and Continuity symposium offers an excellent opportunity in this Centenary year to reflect on the truly global impact of Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics industry, through the study of history, art history and archaeological evidence.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring together such an international range of speakers to explore this topic, from Stoke-on-Trent itself through New Zealand, Chile and China – and many points in between.”
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.