*The text below is written by Dr. Jeoung-Ah Kim and published by her permission.

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International Ceramics Symposium 2011: Ceramic Arts and Design for a Sustainable Society

Frolunda Culture Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden, 
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07-27 March 2011.

This is the first International Ceramics Symposium under the theme of "Ceramic Arts and Design for a Sustainable Society" held in Gothenburg. The Symposium was an initiative of, and coordinated and organised by Dr. Jeoung-Ah Kim (Sweden).


Background
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue in the field of ceramic art and design. In the field of ceramics, the issue of sustainability has been particularly problematic since the production of ceramics uses large amounts of various natural resources. The concept of sustainability is well known in the context of economic, social and ecological sustainability, but is difficult to define precisely. The key to sustainability is to establish the capability for natural and cultural systems to evolve over time. Although global politics, educational sectors, and industries are working towards a sustainable society, it appears that there is not only a lack of information about sustainable ceramic art and design but also a lack of communication between the academics, studio artists, producers and the public.

Aims
Becoming a sustainable society requires a change of perspective in the society at large and in us as individuals. These changes will not only be technical, but also social and ethical. The shared opinion and communications is necessary both externally and internally and should be encouraged to achieve a sustainable society. Therefore, communication between academics, artists, producers and the public is needed, as is the sharing of knowledge between academics and artists. It would not only enable ceramics artists and industries to meet the current demands of sustainable ceramic products in markets, but also provide a base for a more effective form of sustainable ceramics research and improved pedagogical approaches in the field of ceramic art and design. The goals of this symposium are to create/build a network within art and design disciplines (relate with ceramics) and to generate interest in the issue of sustainability in education and research as a source of information, insight and development both for the individual and for society.

The outcome of this symposium will be the identification of challenges and an understanding of current issues of sustainability in ceramics so that educators, artists, producers and the public can be more active and work towards a sustainable society. We expect that each participant will have to address how they shape their work towards a sustainable society. It is hoped that this symposium would form the basis of a new collaborative network with the aim of taking this issues further. We will open all symposium programmes free for the public.

Programme
7 March: The symposium and exhibition opening. 
7-9 March: Speeches, lectures and seminars. 
7-11 March: The workshop demonstrations. 
7-11 March: Symposium Presenters International ceramics exhibition. 
7-27 March: Special International ceramics exhibition.

Special Guest
Lena Jagers Bladini (The Left Party, Vice President, The Cultural Board, Region Vastra Gotaland, Sweden) opened the symposium.
Thomas Martinsson (Chairman of the Cultural Committee, City of Gothenburg, Sweden) opened the exhibition.

Keynote Speakers (A-Z)
Janet Mansfield (Australia) 
Kennet Williamsson (Sweden) 
Merran Esson (Australia) 
Nancy Selvage (USA) 
Tapio Yli-Viikari (Finland) 
Won-Seok Kim (South Korea)

Invited Lecturers & Artists (A-Z)
Dr. Andrew Livingstone (UK) 
Annett Florin (Sweden) 
Astrid Heimer (Norway) 
Dr. Chen You-Lu (Taiwan) 
Graham Hay (New Zealand/Australia) 
Hae-Sin Ro (South Korea) 
Dr. Jeoung-Ah Kim (Sweden): Conference Chair 
Jin Hong Rim (South Korea) 
Dr. Joyce Michelina Centofanti (USA) 
Leena Juvonen (Finland) 
Malene Pedersen (Denmark) 
Marianne Hallberg (Sweden) 
Rosette Gault (USA) 
Sung-Min Kim (South Korea)

Young and Pro International workshops
The "Young and Pro International" workshops focused on young people meet professional artists/art educators from international backgrounds and undertook various types of clay based workshops together especially relate with the issues of sustainability. 

Workshop leaders
Merran Esson (Australia) 
Nancy Selvage (USA) 
Astrid Heimer (Norway) 
Dr. Chen You-Lu (Taiwan) 
Graham Hay (New Zealand/Australia) 
Hae-Sin Ro (Korea) 
Dr. Joyce Michelina Centofanti (USA) 
Rosette Gault (USA)

All workshops were full booked (7-11 March), 300 young students, 25 classes from 11 schools joined us.

Publication
Contact Dr. Jeoung-Ah Kim (Sweden) for copies of the 200+ page Symposium Journal (includes all papers and profiles): 
Jeoung-Ah, Kim (Editor and the author of Introduction) (2011) Ceramic Arts and Design for a Sustainable Society. International Ceramics Symposium 2011(ICS2011), Frolunda Culture Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden, 7-27 March 2011. [Book], ISBN 978-91-633-8184-3

Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Britta Andersson and Per Nyman, Cultural Producers, from the Frolunda Kulturhus in Goteborg, who co-organised and hosted the event.
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Archive copy of website: http://www.ics201.com