EUROPEAN CERAMICS ROUTE MET AT DERUTA

• The European Ceramic Route held its 1st General Assembly on April 16th in Deruta, hosted by its partner, the Deruta Municipality. The program, titled "Magia di un’arte" (The Magic of an Art), included ceramic exhibitions and a national pottery wheel competition. The association's partners in Türkiye are Avanos, Çanakkale, the Iznik Foundation, and Kütahya.

The European Ceramic Route’s General Assembly, chaired by President Massimo Isola and led by Director Benedetta Diamanti, saw strong participation from across the network. Under the aegis of the Council of Europe, the network continues to grow, welcoming four new members and strengthening its involvement in international initiatives and collaborations.

The European Route of Ceramics is a Cultural route certified by the Council of Europe since 2012 and it aims at giving value to the cultural heritage linked to the production of ceramics and its old tradition, creating a sustainable and competitive tourism offer not only based on the artistic productions and collections (workshops and museums), but also on the whole cultural and social development that these destinations have lived over the years. The association's partners in Türkiye include Avanos, Çanakkale, Iznik Foundation and Kütahya, all known for their ceramic traditions.

Born thanks to a European project in 2011, the Route was managed through an Association named UNIC and coordinated, for the first 5 years, by the City of Limoges. In order to relaunch and give more value to the Route, the partners of the European Route of Ceramics have agreed with the handover of the association from the City of Limoges to the City of Faenza (Italy), which is therefore the new coordinator. To this extent, a new association headquartered in Faenza has been created at the end of August 2018, aiming at continuing the activity of the European Route of Ceramics, promoting its development in terms of projects and members, with the support of the Council of Europe.

The Magic of an Art

The program, organized under the title "The Magic of an Art," aimed to strengthen Deruta's role in the national and European ceramic arts scene by bringing together delegations from 60 member organizations of the Association of Italian Ceramic Cities (AICC) and 12 countries. Within this framework, various ceramic exhibitions were opened and a national pottery wheel competition was organized.

The first of two major exhibitions featured approximately twenty works from cities along the European Ceramic Route. The second significant exhibition, “Francis: The Imprint of Ceramics,” opened at the Deruta Regional Ceramic Museum. Launched to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, the exhibition showcases approximately fifty pieces from 60 AICC member centers and will run until May 24th. The exhibition offers a valuable opportunity to explore how ceramic art can interpret and transmit spiritual heritage through contemporary creativity.

Potters Showcase Their Skills

The National Pottery Wheel Competition organized by the Deruta Municipality aimed to celebrate the art of ceramics by combining the mastery of professionals with the creativity of new generations. Ceramicists from all over Italy competed on the pottery wheel, which requires precision, experience, and complete control. The competition was held in two separate sections: The Junior Section ("Graphic and Ceramics" Competition): open to students from art high schools in Umbria and the Perugia Academy of Fine Arts. In the Senior Section ("Innovative Aesthetics" and "Technical" Competition), Italian and foreign ceramicists over the age of 18 competed. The participation of Deruta Mayor Michele Toniaccini in the pottery wheel created colorful scenes. Toniaccini also hosted Mustafa Şahin, Chairman of the Board of Menemen Şahinler Makine, a pottery wheel manufacturer from Türkiye, in his office.

The 2nd General Assembly, the next meeting of the European Ceramic Route, will be held in Faenza on September 3, 2026.