British Ceramics Biennial's new home for 2023

The British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) Festival returns to Stoke-on-Trent from 23 September to 5 November, for six weeks of exhibitions, installations and events shown against the backdrop of the city’s industrial heritage. From spotlighting the UK’s leading ceramicists to introducing work by international artists and fresh new talent, the BCB Festival is a celebration of the creative potential of clay for storytelling, playfulness, risk-taking and activism. 

And for 2023, BCB has a new home! All Saints Church, a Grade II listed building, designed by architect Gerald Horsley in the Arts and Crafts style, and has a rich history in the ceramics industry, will be the new hub for the 2023 festival.

Pictured above, All Saints Church - a new home for BCB. Credit: Natalie Armitage

Built between 1911 and 1913 as an expansion of an earlier parish church, All Saints Church was “built by the potters, for the potters”. It was paid for, in part, by George Meakin of J. & G. Meakin, a company that had several factories in and around Joiner’s Square, including the current Emma Bridgewater factory site. 

Since its renovation and expansion, All Saints Church has continued to serve its community in various ways, including its connections to the ceramics industry. Reverend Geoffrey Eze has acted as a good friend for Emma Bridgewater staff, and in recent years, the church has provided space for exhibitions, live music, filming, performance, and photography. 

The 2023 festival will showcase leading contemporary artists working in clay, with exhibitions, installations, and events celebrating the rich history and diversity of the art form. All Saints Church and its neighbouring church hall will serve as the main venue for the festival, providing a beautiful and historic setting for visitors to experience the best of clay and ceramics.

Claire Wood, Chief Executive & Artistic Director of British Ceramics Biennial said “We are so pleased that All Saints Church will be the hub for our 2023 festival. The church’s connection to the ceramics industry and the city’s potters alongside the stunning architecture make it an extremely fitting venue for presenting contemporary ceramics. It’s a venue that invites connections between today’s artists and the artisans of the past who would have been very familiar with the church and its surroundings. We are excited to share this beautiful and historic space with visitors from around the UK.”

The BCB 2023 programme has been announced, click here for further information.