The New and Emerging Makers Competition began in 2011. It is an opportunity for UK potters and artists working with clay, who have graduated within the past five years, to exhibit their work at the International Ceramics Festival 2025.
Sponsored by Potclays
The Submission process [closes 25 April 2025] – ***download application details here***
The four finalists will be asked to bring a selection of their work to participate in the New and Emerging Maker’s exhibition during the weekend. All finalists will be given a weekend ticket and accommodation at the International Ceramics Festival 2025. All finalists will have a profile on the ICF website and we recommend they also have a website or blog to link to. All four finalists will continue to receive support from the ICF in terms of publicising their activities across ICF social media in the interim Festival year at least.
The winner of the Potclays and ICF New and Emerging Maker Award 2025 will be selected based on their full submission and the work they display during the ICF weekend – the visiting public will also be able to contribute towards the voting.
The winner will receive a £200 voucher for supplies at Potclays LTD, an interview published on the Potclays website, a framed certificate and ongoing social and digital media support e.g. on request, press releases for their news and events published in their monthly email newsletter and social shares. The winner will also receive a ticket to ICF 2027.
Applicants:
Applicants must be over 18 years of age and based in the UK. They must have graduated from a UK university or institute of Higher Education within the past 5 years, this includes students who will graduate by July 2025.
The selection is based on the following criteria:
The Application Process:
Please provide the Festival administrator with:
Deadline for submissions is 25 April 2025.
Submit you application via email with the title Potclays and ICF 2025 New and Emerging Makers Award in the subject field to:
Cat Gardiner
Email: administrator@icfwales.co.uk
The Selection Process:
Once all applications for the competition have been received the ICF selection panel will select the finalists. The selection panel will be made up of Potclays representatives and ICF Directors.
Timeline:
March 2025: Emerging Makers Award applications open
25 April 2025: Closing date for applications for Emerging Makers Award
13 May 2025: Four Makers chosen to exhibit at the festival
29 June 2025: Award winner selected at Festival (27-29 June 2025)
This award is supported by Potclays LTD.
EMERGING MAKERS 2023 WINNER – Rhiannon Gwyn
My practice explores the deep connections humans have to place and landscape. I’m interested in how materials can act as identity markers; influencing the way in which we view ourselves and the world around us through the imprinting of emotion and memory onto our surroundings.
This involves exploring the full potential of slate by incorporating it with ceramic processes to create objects that depict forms of the land as part of a circular process whereby I have been personally shaped by my surrounding landscape form and shape its raw materials. A process of sculpting the materials that have sculpted me.
These features are reflected in the shapes of the melted slate through high firing and in the patterns and colours of the ceramics created through glazes made from materials collected from the land such as slate and the gorse flower.
https://www.rhiannongwyn.com Instagram: @rhiannongwyn.maker
