Activities carried out during the project:
– Presentation of permanent exhibitions
The exhibitions will present ceramics and art of a given time as one of the material manifestations of cultural, economic and social processes, and at the same time as an expression of cultural differences or symbiosis existing in the region in the past and today. As part of the project, based on Norwegian models, modern exhibition tour formats were implemented, as well as thematic museum lessons with supporting materials (6 scenarios) and educational paths for children. The exhibitions will be accessible to people with physical disabilities and to the visually impaired.
Exhibition topics:
- Ceramics of the Bolesławiec region in the old ages
- Bolesławiec and its culture from the 16th to the 20th century
- The Bolesławiec pottery school and its influence on the development of design and technology of modern ceramics
- The modern Polish Bolesławiec – post-war and contemporary utility ceramics
- Contemporary ceramic sculpture
- Artists of the Bolesławiec Land
Permanent exhibitions will be available free of charge throughout the durability of the project.
- Manual classes (pottery production and decoration) for people with disabilities
Cyclical workshops on making and decorating various ceramic forms, addressed to disabled students of the local special school and participants of Occupational Therapy Workshops. The classes are aimed at activating excluded groups and providing them with access to the museum’s resources in a way that develops their potential. Workshops will be held quarterly throughout the durability of the project.
– Ceramic workshops for children and teenagers
Workshops on decorating ceramic forms with various techniques, addressed to organised groups of children and youth, both locals and visitors (tourists). They are intended to present traditional local decorations and ornaments, which still exert a strong influence on the design of Bolesławiec pottery. Workshops will be held on request.
– Pottery decorating workshops inspired by local cultural heritage
Workshops consisting in transferring various ornamental motifs to ceramic vessels. The decorations would be typical of cultural groups or ethnic minorities coming to the Bolesławiec region after World War II: re-emigrants from Bosnia, repatriates from France, people displaced from the Eastern Borderlands, Lemkos, etc. Workshops, addressed to all age groups, aim at showing the cultural complexity of the region, deepening the mutual understanding between the inhabitants, supporting intercultural dialogue and seeking creative inspiration in various traditions. Workshops, addressed to organized groups, both local and visitors (tourists), will be held on request throughout the project durability period.
– Workshops, demonstrations and lectures on topics related to Norwegian culture
A series of workshops, shows and lectures combined with interactive activities, presenting the cultural heritage of Norway. Meeting topics:
– folk music (traditional instruments, hallingdans dance, hardingfele violin),
– classical literature and music (Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Grieg),
– folk ceramics,
– folk costumes and language,
– traditional cuisine; holidays and holiday customs,
– Norwegian art.
The meetings, prepared in cooperation with the Norwegian Telemark Museum, will be held quarterly throughout the project durability phase.
Activities implemented over the project durability period:
– Lectures for aspiring ceramic technicians and decorators
Free cyclical lectures on e.g. history of ceramics, aesthetics, technology and industrial design, addressed to students of vocational classes with the profiles of ceramic technician and ceramic decorator, but also open to any interested young people. Classes, conducted by artists, practicing potters and art historians, will be held annually in the fourth quarter.
– Museum classes for seniors on creating ceramic forms and decorations
Free training in the use of clay in the creative process and in various pottery techniques, addressed to senior citizens. As part of the lectures combined with workshops, participants will learn about, among others: preparation and processing of various types of clay, techniques of creating utility forms and artistic works, issues of decorating forms, the basics of glazing and firing technology. Classes, conducted by ceramic artists, will be held cyclically throughout the project durability phase.
- Archaeological case study – discovering the remains of a former pottery plant (reconstruction of the archaeological site from the field work by Museum of Ceramics staff in 2007)
Free workshops conducted at a reconstructed archaeological site from the field work project, researching the former pottery plant in Bolesławiec. The workshops are meant to provide an interactive demonstration of the way of work specific for archaeologists and for conservators of archaeological monuments. The classes, conducted by an archaeologist, are intended for organised school groups and will take place from spring to autumn, throughout the project durability phase.
- Competition for the design of moulds and decorations of utility ceramics
A competition addressed to designers of ceramic forms and decorations from the Bolesławiec region. The aim is to motivate artists in the search for and create new ornamental patterns inspired by local cultural heritage. Designs with the highest artistic merit will be awarded and promoted in Poland and abroad. The jury selecting winners will include representatives of ceramics industry, ceramic artists and the Museum of Ceramics staff. The competition’s final act will be an exhibition of submitted works, presented in the museum. The competition will be held every two years in the project durability phase.
– “Ceramics around us” photo competition
The competition is addressed to all interested parties, divided into categories according to age and advancement level (amateurs and professionals). It aims to distinguish and promote the authors of photographs devoted to ceramics in everyday surroundings and to emphasise its role in building awareness and cultural identity of the local community. The winners will be selected by a jury consisting of artistic photographers and staff of the Museum of Ceramics. An exhibition of submitted works, presented in the museum, will sum up the competition. The awarded photographs will be published in the local annual publication “Rocznik Bolesławiecki”. The competition will be held every year in the project durability phase.
– A series of exhibitions presenting the work of Polish artistic potters and designers of utility ceramics
A series of monographic exhibitions presenting the achievements of the most outstanding Polish creators of utility ceramics and of ceramic industrial design. Exhibitions will be held every three years of the durability phase of the project. Exhibition period: 2 months; free admission.
– A series of exhibitions presenting the work of European ceramic artists and designers of functional ceramics in Europe
A series of exhibitions presenting the achievements of valued European creators of utility ceramics and ceramic industrial design. The exhibits would come from centres located along the European Ceramics Route. Exhibitions will be held every three years, throughout the project durability phase. Duration of the exhibition: 2 months, free admission. The project is organised in co-operation with partners from the European Ceramics Route and the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation “City of Ceramics”.
– “Ceramic Author’s Studios” – a series of meetings with ceramics artists and designers of utility ceramics from Poland and Europe combined with their workshops
A series of meetings with the most outstanding creators of utility ceramics and ceramic industrial design from Poland and Europe, who will carry out specialist demonstrations and workshops presenting selected ceramic techniques. Meetings, addressed to local citizens interested in functional ceramics and its creation, will take place throughout the project durability phase. Admission is free. The project is organised in cooperation with partners from the European Ceramics Route and the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation “City of Ceramics”.
– A series of exhibitions presenting the work of Polish ceramic sculptors
A series of monographic exhibitions presenting the achievements of the most outstanding creators of ceramic sculpture. Exhibitions will be held every three years, throughout the project durability phase. Duration of the exhibition: 2 months, free admission.
– A series of exhibitions presenting the work of leading European ceramic sculptors
A series of exhibitions presenting the achievements of the most outstanding European artists of ceramic sculpture. Exhibitions will be held every three years, throughout the project durability phase. Duration of the exhibition: 2 months, free admission. The project is organised in cooperation with partners from the European Ceramics Route and the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation “City of Ceramics”.
– Polish edition of the Buongiorno Ceramica campaign
The Museum of Ceramics will participate in the European “Buongiorno Ceramica” project, whose aim is to popularise ceramics and places related to it, through various cultural and promotional activities and events. As part of the project, cycles of free workshops, lectures and shows are planned, as well as photographic exhibitions on ceramics. The activities will be held in May, each year throughout the project durability phase. The project is co-organised with partners from the European Ceramics Route and the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation “City of Ceramics”.
– Ceramics-themed city games
A series of urban games, whose leading motifs are based on ceramics-linked places and objects in Bolesławiec. The goal is to disseminate knowledge about the history of ceramics and its connections with the culture and history of the city. The scenarios will be prepared together with the Norwegian partner during the project implementation. The games will be organised annually throughout the project durability phase. They are addressed to groups of children and teenagers, mainly from the Bolesławiec region.
– Oxford debate – modern methods of promotion using social media and a strategy to protect the brand of Bolesławiec ceramics
A series of debates on modern forms of promoting Bolesławiec ceramics and an effective strategy to protect the “Bolesławiec ceramics” brand with the use of various social media. The participants of the debates, conducted by specialists in the promotion of crafts and applied arts, will be high school students from the Bolesławiec region. The debates will take place every two years in the project durability phase.
– Panel of experts – a series of lectures on the technology of mould making and pottery decoration
A series of thematic lectures on the methods and technology of producing Bolesławiec stoneware and stamp decoration, addressed to high-school students specialised in ceramics and to employees of the ceramic industry. The lectures will take place every two years in the project durability phase.
– Classes in computer graphics – designing ceramic forms and decorations
A series of classes in the design of forms and decoration of functional ceramics using modern techniques. The classes will be mainly addressed to young people from ceramic classes, as well as all other people interested in the subject. Classes will be held on request throughout the project durability phase.
– “Family Mornings at the Museum”
An offer addressed to families with small children, consisting in an attractive combination of exhibition visits with interactive and manual tasks, aimed to activate the youngest museum guests. The project will take place every month, in the project durability phase.
– A tourist route including attractions related to ceramics in Bolesławiec: places of workshops, ceramics sales points, museums and galleries
In order to facilitate tourist traffic in the city, a route will be drawn and marked, connecting a variety of places related to ceramics: museums, galleries, monuments and points of sale. The route can be pursued both with a guide and using a mobile application. The offer will be available throughout the project durability phase.
– “Bolesławiec pottery conquers the world” – the blog
A blog collecting information and photos documenting the presence of Bolesławiec pottery on foreign markets. The constantly developed blog aims to promote and popularise local craftsmanship. The blog will be run throughout the project durability phase.
– “Bolesławiecki Ceramikon” – a website presenting pottery plants, designers, decorators, technologists and other people linked to the industry
A website that is a kind of “encyclopaedia of Bolesławiec ceramics”, containing information about pottery plants, designers, decorators, technologists and other people related to the ceramic industry. The website will be available for the whole project durability phase.
– “Bodypainting” project
The action of decorating the body with the use of a technique patented by Zakłady Ceramiczne “Bolesławiec”, employing stamps used to decorate ceramics. The offer, addressed to all age groups, will be available on request throughout the project durability phase.
– A play about Master Joppe’s Great Pot
The spectacle is a contemporary interpretation of a theatrical play about the symbol of Bolesławiec ceramic traditions – the Great Pot. The play was originally written by K.T. Pfautz and staged for the first time in 1879. Young people from Bolesławiec schools will be involved in the performance preparation.
– Outdoor photo exhibitions presenting the centres of the European Ceramics Route
A series of annual photo exhibitions focusing on individual ceramic centres – members of the European Ceramics Route: Faenza, Limoges, Selb, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Stoke-on-Trent and Delft. Activity carried out in cooperation with members of the European Ceramics Route.
– Curatorial guided tours of permanent and temporary exhibitions
The offer is addressed to people who prefer group tours of exhibitions with a guide. It includes free guided tours of the permanent exhibitions and the current temporary exhibition by guides in historical costumes. The activity will take place once a month throughout the project durability phase.
– Meetings with ceramics lovers and collectors
A series of meetings with lovers and collectors of Bolesławiec pottery. During the meetings, participants will be able to listen to thematic lectures and take part in discussions. The activity will be organised once a year, throughout the project durability phase.
– Summer ceramic mini open-air for children
Art open-air for children, which aims to encourage participants to work creatively with clay, show how to process and use this mouldable material. The workshop will take place every year during the summer school holidays, throughout the project durability phase.
