People and Potteries

Ceramics is one of the oldest materials used by human beings.

Clay has been employed since earliest times for both practical purposes and to create artistic and religious works. Over the centuries European nations have developed a variety of different ceramic bodies – such as earthenware, faïence, stoneware or porcelain. Use and design have been influenced both by national traditions and wider developments across the continent, particularly as the transport and communications infrastructure improved in the 19th century.

This subject provided the basis for an EU Culture 2000 programme project which took place between 2001 and 2004. The Ceramic – Culture – Innovation project explored the interdependences between different areas of ceramic production. It became clear that ceramics is an important part of our European cultural heritage.

In this new project, the focus is not so much on the manufactured object, but rather on the people, skills, processes, and technology in the industry - the how, when and why of ceramics. But this time we look at history, tradition, and the modern world. This project continues the successful Ceramic Culture Innovation project.

The partnership
Five of Europe’s leading ceramics museums and a new technology partner are working together. These are:

• Deutsches Porzellanmuseum, Hohenberg, Germany
• Musée National de Porcelain Adrien Dubouché, Limoges, France
• The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
• Museu Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
• The Herend Porcelain Museum Foundation, Herend, Hungary
• Hothouse, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

The partnership is funded through the European Union's Culture 2000 programme, which promotes cultural co-operation and mutual understanding across Europe. Deutsches Porzellanmuseum is the lead partner, responsible for overall project co-ordination.

The project
There are six sub-projects, and each partner has the lead for one of these.

• Digital History programme (Stoke-on-Trent)
• A Biographical Database (Limoges)
• Journey into the Past (Stoke-on-Trent)
• A Touring Exhibition (Herend)
• Bibliography  (Faenza)
• New Methods for Museums (Selb)