Overview
Organized by the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre – International Ceramics Centre in partnership with the Bolesławiec Municipality, the International Ceramic Sculptural Symposium in Bolesławiec (Poland) is one of Europe’s longest-running ceramic art initiatives, with over sixty years of continuous activity. Held annually in August in Bolesławiec—a city globally recognized for its deep-rooted ceramic traditions—the symposium places international visual artists directly inside three major active ceramic manufactories to create original works within industrial settings.
Objectives
The symposium aims to position Bolesławiec as a global center for artistic ceramics by fostering dialogue between contemporary art, traditional craftsmanship, and industrial ceramic production. By providing creators with access to technical infrastructure rarely available in standard studio environments, the program seeks to encourage experimentation with large-scale forms, materials, and manufacturing processes while promoting cross-cultural collaboration and international artistic exchange.
Programs / Opportunities
- Factory-Based Residency & Symposium: An annual August residency program providing selected international artists with direct placement in operating ceramic factories, technical collaboration with master craftspeople, industrial raw materials, and large-scale kiln firings.
- Exhibition & Publication: A post-symposium exhibition showcasing completed sculptures alongside a published bilingual (Polish/English) exhibition catalogue.
- Public Festival Participation: Integration into the annual Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival, connecting residents with local and international public audiences.
Target Community
- Visual Artists & Sculptors: International emerging, mid-career, and established visual artists, ceramicists, sculptors, and interdisciplinary creators working with clay or spatial practices.
- Factory Technicians & Craftspeople: Master technicians, mold-makers, kiln operators, and factory personnel across Bolesławiec’s major ceramic manufactories.
- International Public & Collectors: Contemporary art audiences, ceramic enthusiasts, collectors, and visitors to the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival.
