International Ceramics Festival 2023
International Ceramics Festival Friday 30th June until Sunday 2nd July 2023
The ICF is Europe’s premier ceramics festival. It is held at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on the campus of Aberystwyth University on the mid-Wales coast. Since it began in 1987, the three-day festival has grown to become the UK’s leading ceramics event. The event attracts internationally known potters and ceramicists from Wales, the UK and around the world.
The Festival offers lectures, practical demonstrations and visits to our special exhibitions. It is held over a long weekend at the end of June or early July. Our international demonstrators show skills and techniques on our specially adapted stage. They also have their own workspaces – enabling personal discussion about their work. The focus is both practical and inspirational – kilns are built, pots are made and fired.
The Festival supports emerging makers. It has opportunities for students and recent graduates who work with clay through ceramics, fine art or 3-D design courses. If you are a teaching organisation and would like us to arrange a visit to talk to your students please contact us at the festival office. See Student Opportunities for more information.
The Festival offer visitors opportunities to take part in the festival. A variety of hands-on activities as well as being able to vote for the Lifetime Achievement award and donate their work to the Cup Sale. Potclays, one of the UK’s main ceramics suppliers, sponsors the festival, with additional support from other ceramic supply companies. It has financial support from the Welsh Arts Council and the Welsh Government.
The organisers are Wales’s two potters groups, North Wales Potters and South Wales Potters together with Aberystwyth University.
Demonstrators
The ICF features ceramicists from all over the world. It is a unique opportunity to see them demonstrate their techniques and discuss their ideas and processes.
Event Programme
The festival features demonstrations, kiln firings, talks and discussions, films, exhibitions, performances, and hands-on activities. There are plenty of other activities over an exciting weekend in the beautiful surroundings of mid-Wales.
Booking Information
TICKETS AND ACCOMMODATION
The next Festival will take place on Friday 30th June – Sunday 2nd July 2023. Tickets are on sale from December 21st 2022 and can be purchased online here and from the Aberystwyth Arts Centre box office.
BOX OFFICE tel: 01970 623 232
Open 10 am – 8 pm Monday to Saturday and 1.30 – 5.30 pm on Sunday
The next Festival will take place on Friday 30th June until Sunday 2nd July 2023. Sign up to their newsletter for notices. see website
Website for the International Ceramics Festival
Travel Information
The Arts Centre is situated at the heart of the Penglais campus of Aberystwyth University. When you approach Aberystwyth by road you’ll see signs directing you to Aberystwyth University; these will lead you to Penglais Campus (off the A487). Look out for the bright yellow square signs containing a picture of a mortarboard (academic cap). The grid reference for sat nav users is 52.417739,-4.065292.
The Festival site at the Arts Centre on Penglais Hill can be reached on foot from the railway or bus stations. It is a 20 minute up walk up a hill but there are taxis outside the railway station and buses that go past the arts centre; timetables are here: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/maps-travel/bus
Location Map of the International Ceramics Festival
For the Love of What’s On – Pottery and Ceramic Shows 2023
