Cincinnati Prepares for the Return of One of the World’s Biggest Ceramics Conferences

BY KELSEY GRAHAM

[and] which also speaks volumes to the fact that there is so much talent here,” Kravetz says.

While part of the conference will take place at the Duke Energy Convention Center for paying attendees, the event’s reach goes far beyond downtown Cincinnati. Aside from the conference events at the convention center geared towards practicing and professional ceramic artists, regional arts havens such as the Carnegie in Covington, the Cincinnati Art Museum in Mount Adams and Wave Pool in Camp Washington will host free events and exhibits that are open to the public.

“We think that’s the biggest change with what Pam and I are doing compared to past NCECAs, as really this is all about our city and uplifting the talents and people that are here and making sure that the residents feel included and see that they can be involved in ceramics as well,” Cullen says.

To Cullen and Kravetz, the conference is an opportunity to showcase the booming Cincinnati arts scene for the local community and visitors. While the Ohio River Valley has a rich history in the ceramic arts, which Kravetz and Cullen feel is essential to highlight during the event, they also want to focus on the current work happening in the city.

“We want to talk about history,” Kravetz says. “We want to talk about Rookwood. We want to talk about indigenous art. But we also want to talk about where we are now.” their locations.

There’s even a chance to explore drinkable and wearable art, including at Ombré Gallery, which will host an event for jewelry makers to sell their pieces.

“It’s all levels,” Kravetz says. “You’re going to be able to go into a coffee shop and buy a $25 mug and get to have that and drink out of something handmade. Then we’ll have monumental sculptural art pieces at different galleries and museums.”

While Cullen, Kravetz and the NCECA board have been busy planning the event, a team of more than 100 local volunteers will help make the conference’s vision a reality.

“There are so many people helping to make this possible,” said Cullen, noting Ben Clark of Queen City Clay, who is hosting five exhibits and events at Queen City Clay’s Norwood location and supplying the ceramic equipment for Lugo’s event at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

“The city has just risen to the occasion,” Kravetz adds

Cullen and Kravetz say they’re excited about the conference, both as an opportunity to connect with other artists and also to show off their city.

“We just can’t wait for people to come and experience this city and leave and say, ‘Wow, Cincinnati!’” Kravetz says. “It’s going to be really exciting for the city and all the artists coming to be a part of it.”

Amajor ceramics conference soon will return to Cincinnati for the first time since the 1990s, and it’s poised to draw thousands of artists to the Queen City.

The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ (NCECA) 57th conference, Current, will take place at the Duke Energy Convention Center and throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in March. An annual celebration of the national and international ceramics community, the event is open to professional artists and the general public.

NCECA was founded in 1966 and has been a long-standing reputable source of engagement and education for the ceramic arts community. Each year, the conference is held in a different city and features speakers, presenters, exhibitions, and an opportunity for the ceramic arts community to connect and grow. And this year’s local conference liaisons – longtime multi-disciplinary artist Pam Kravetz and founder and executive director of Wave Pool Calcagno Cullen – aim to further that reach to the entire Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky community.

This year will be the first time the national conference has been held in Cincinnati since 1990, with a 2021 date turned into a virtual event due to COVID-19 restrictions. But Cullen and Kravetz say they’re excited to finally show off the region’s artists and makers, both past and present.

“We wanted to bring this to the city,” Kravetz tells CityBeat. “We wanted to highlight our incredible ceramics community and open it to people living here, and NCECA was also ready for that.”

Conference speakers and presenters are chosen through an international open-call process where the board reviews hundreds of applications. And while the artists and presenters featured come from across the globe – including keynote presenters Rose B. Simpson and Roxanne Swentzell – local artists are included throughout the program, too.

“There are a lot of Cincinnatians that have been selected, which is huge,

More than 90 free communityfocused exhibitions and events are planned throughout the city, including over 20 window displays in Over-theRhine featuring work from Cincinnati high school students and artists.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting artist Robert Lugo in a residency and turning gallery space into a ceramic studio throughout the conference dates. During this event, visitors can explore an array of Lugo’s completed works in one room. In an adjacent gallery, they’ll interact with Lugo, who will create ceramic pieces on-site and host lectures.

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will join the festivities by hosting Emergence, an exhibition celebrating the changing seasons with blooms and ceramics. Emergence will open during the conference dates and run through Aug. 31.

Bars, restaurants, and boutiques, including The Elusive Cow in Bellevue and Idlewild in Over-the-Rhine, will engage with the ceramics community through events and exhibits hosted at

NCECA’s 57th-annual conference, Current, runs March 15-18 throughout Greater Cincinnati, including at Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. Info: nceca.net.