The first Italian Ceramic Culture Centre is inaugurated

To develop awareness of ceramic nationally and reinforce the competitivity of industrial, artisanal and artistic ceramic on the foreign market - these are the primary objectives of the new Centro per la Cultura Ceramica Italiana (Italian Ceramic Culture Centre), a project sponsored by Confindustria Ceramica and the first of its kind in Italy.

The point of departure for the initiative is to unite studies and points of view about the sector, from industry, small workshops, scientific research, museums and the arts. Over the coming two years, the project will be collaborating with MIC, the Faenza International Ceramics Museum (culture: art and museums), AiCC, the Italian Ceramic Cities Association (crafts) and CCB, the Bologna Ceramic Centre (scientific research).

As its first step, the project will map the national production of ceramic to create a database which can be used by companies to increase their competitivity by analysing criticalities and opportunities in the market. The database will cover the following categories: Industry; Ceramic cities; Ceramic museums and libraries; Research and innovation bodies; Schools; Artisans and artists.

The second step will focus on innovation, supporting scientific and technological research to expand the performance of ceramic as a material (in part, by updating and training the workforce), so as to improve the quality and sustainability of the product.

The third and last step will be dedicated to promotion and publicity by setting up a ceramic portal which will make all the data gathered during the research available on-line, as well as publishing a historical atlas of Italian ceramic, a critical review of ceramic manufacturing and its role in the history of Italian design, a tourist guide to Italy's ceramic cities and a glossary of terms in use in the industry. The project is sponsored by MISE with a major financial contribution.