We are pleased to reveal the programme of events for the International Ceramics Festival 2025.
The programme includes the timetable of demonstrations, lectures and notes the various activities which will happen across the festival’s site. (Please note that the programme is subject to changes and additions)
Download a PDF of the 2025 Festival Programme by clicking here: ICF 2025 festival programme
***please note that the festival reception and the University’s accommodation desk will be open in the Arts Centre from 2.00-5.00pm Thursday 26 June; on Friday 27 June the festival reception will be open from 10am and the University’s accommodation pop-up desk will be open from 2.00pm***
The Festival takes place throughout the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, with demonstrations in the Hall, lectures, films and illustrated talks in the Theatre and Cinema and various trade stands housed in marquees outside. Kiln building and firings take place in the outside areas. In addition, Festival visitors will be able to see numerous exhibitions of ceramics, within the Arts Centre galleries and outside in the marquees. There is also the opportunity to buy guest demonstrators’ work from a special selling exhibition which is only available during the Festival weekend.
The Masters of Ceremonies throughout the weekend will be the much–loved ceramic artist Jim Robison, who has been part of the Festival since 1987 and ceramicist and educator Ingrid Murphy who is Subject Leader in Ceramics at Cardiff School of Art.
> THURSDAY
The registration desk opens at 2pm for collecting wristbands and information packs.
> FRIDAY
The registration desk opens at 10am for collecting wristbands and information packs.
The exhibitions, kilns, have-a-go barrel and raku kilns and trade stands will be open.
At 11.00am, Iku Nishikawa will be hosting a Kintsugi Masterclass [booking essential] book your place here >>> Kintsugi Masterclass with Iku Nishikawa
There will be a bilingual activity at Claytopia from 2.30pm. This will be a drop in event.
Sustainability in ceramics is an overarching theme of the festival this year, and a Sustainability Symposium will begin at 3.00pm in the cinema, featuring experts in the field. The symposium will be broadcast live, with virtual key note by Dr Wendy Gers.
7pm in the Great Hall, the official opening ceremony will include short introduction by the weekend’s guest demonstrators who will introduce themselves and their plans of work for the weekend. The Potterycrafts Lifetime Achievement award will also be presented.
> SATURDAY
Saturday and Sunday are filled with demonstrations, lecture and films while kiln building, firings and hands-on events will take place outside. There will be plenty of opportunities to socialise throughout, including an evening of live music and spectacle kilns on Saturday evening.
9am – 5pm
Inside: Continuous demonstrations, films and lectures, exhibitions and other activities see draft programme above for times.
Outside: Kiln firings, trade stands, hands-on activities, student demonstrations, demonstrator areas.
5pm Break
Evening: Join the exhibition openings happening in the Arts Centre, the ‘O Serameg i Sain // From Clay to Sound’ exhibition launch in Gallery 1 and ‘RE:MADE Upcycled and Assembled in Wales’ in the Ceramics Gallery.
Live music will follow with Cover Revolution from 9pm in the Theatre Bar in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
> Sunday
Festival Cup Sale at 8.30am – All festival participants and visitors are invited to bring with them a cup (or similar cup-sized item) to be displayed and ultimately sold in aid of the Festival. All cups will be exhibited and the sale begins on Sunday morning at 8.30am so get there early!
Inside: Continuous demonstrations, films and lectures, exhibitions, cup sale and other activities
Outside: Kiln openings, trade stands, hands on activities, student demonstrations, demonstrator areas.
From 3.45pm Finale, awards and official close.
