More than 6,000 artists, designers, educators and scholars expected to attend event co-hosted by VCUarts and Visual Arts Center of Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. (March 2, 2020) – The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) will bring its 54th annual conference titled “MULTIVALENT: Clay, Mindfulness and Memory” to the Richmond area on March 25-28. Co-hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) and the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts), the event – which will include panel discussions, keynotes and other educational opportunities – takes place at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, along with major exhibitions featuring clay artists planned at venues throughout the region.
Founded in 1966, NCECA promotes and improves the ceramic arts through education, community-building, research and creative inspiration. More than 6,000 ceramic artists and enthusiasts from across the U.S. and abroad are expected to attend the 2020 conference.
MULTIVALENT will feature a wide range of programming and presenters, as well as visionary scholars and artists from other disciplines. Sonya Clark, a Distinguished Research Fellow and chair of the VCUarts Department of Craft/Materials Studies from 2006-2017 will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. Clark’s presentation “Measuring History” will take place on March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and is free and open to the public.
“This is the first time NCECA will host a conference in Virginia,” said VCUarts Interim Dean Nancy Scott. “We’re thrilled to welcome attendees to engage with Richmond’s vibrant and creative arts community.”
During the conference, organizers will partner with VisArts and Glave Kocen Gallery to host the 2020 Annual exhibition. Titled “The Burdens of History” and curated by Anna Walker, the exhibition features an exploration of creative visions, voices, and cultural experiences of those who have been historically excluded from mainstream discourse of Post-World War II American studio ceramics movement.
“The NCECA conference is an incredible opportunity to showcase the art that is being made throughout Richmond’s thriving clay community,” said VisArts Executive Director Stefanie Fedor. “The conference is also an amazing opportunity to see work made by ceramic artists all over the country. The 2020 Annual exhibition is a great example of that and we’re looking forward to co-hosting that show with Glave Kocen Gallery.”
Also coinciding with MULTIVALENT, more than 150 ceramic exhibitions will be free and open to the public at local galleries and businesses throughout the region. A free mobile app created by NCECA for iOS and Android devices details conference programming and exhibitions throughout the region.
“NCECA’s host city selection committee and team are excited to bring the 2020 conference to Richmond,” said NCECA Executive Director Josh Green. “Learning through ceramic art engages our minds and senses. The Richmond region is both steeped in history and engaged with innovation. These qualities and the work of our host organizations make this an extraordinary place for creatives, educators, students, and ceramic art enthusiasts from throughout the world to gather, learn, and share their work with the greater community.”
“The Richmond region is fast becoming one of the country’s premier art destinations,” said Jack Berry, Richmond Region Tourism President & CEO. “We can’t wait to welcome so many talented and creative ceramic artists to the area.”
To register for the conference or for more information, visit https://nceca.net/.
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ABOUT NCECA
Mission: The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts advances creation, teaching and learning through clay in the contemporary world. Ceramic art connects us to physical and cognitive experiences that foster environments of cultural equity, diversity, access, and inclusion.
NCECA’s programs, exhibitions and public events promote and improve the ceramic arts through education, community building, research and creative inspiration. NCECA offers programs, events and publications to support its membership of artists, educators, students, individual and organizational patrons, gallerists, curators, and providers of ceramic arts products and services. For more information, visit www.nceca.net.
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