Welcome to Ceramics Ireland

Ceramics is a material that has been used for centuries.  It can be found in the pots and pans we use to cook with, as well as in the tiles on our floors and walls.

The first known production of ceramics was found at Jiahu, China between 7000 BC -5700 BC where they were fired at low temperatures around 1000°C. The earliest evidence of pottery was discovered by archaeologists who unearthed 20 or so pieces from what appears to have once been a kiln located near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. This discovery dated back to 6000 BCE (about 7500 years ago).

We will explore 8 ceramic facts you may not know about!

1. Ceramic has been around for about 10,000 years
2. The oldest known ceramic object is a bowl found in China that dates back to 20,000 BC
3. The first ceramics were found in China and Mesopotamia
4. There are over 20 different types of ceramic art styles
5. Ceramics are divided into three categories – earthenware, stoneware and porcelain
6. Earthenware is porous and can be glazed or unglazed, while porcelain has a higher firing temperature which makes it non-porous
7. Stoneware is usually fired at high temperatures so it’s hard and durable like stone
8. Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is often used for dishes because it doesn’t scratch or chip easily

Promoting ceramics in Ireland can be difficult, especially if you are an emerging artist. There is so much competition and the market is saturated with talented artists. However, there are a few strategies that will help you to get your work out into the world and increase awareness of your ceramic practice.

In this blog post, we will discuss four promotional strategies for promoting ceramics in Ireland:

What is ceramics and how can it be beneficial to Ireland?

What is it about a ceramic practice that makes it a sustainable art form?

There are many benefits to ceramics, both for the artist and the community. First of all, there are no issues if you get inspiration from one project or another while working on something else- this is because once fired, each piece can be considered unique in its own right. The artist can also be much more experimental in their approach, and not have to worry about the permanency of a given work.

In terms of community involvement, ceramics offer an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to get involved- this is especially rewarding when it comes to children who are able to learn skills such as hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and communication.

Ceramics have a long history of being used in Ireland- from the prehistoric times when they were known to be carved by hand, through to more modern pieces where ceramic production was increased due to industrialization. The Irish Craft Potters Association (ICPA) is an example of how ceramics are still widely celebrated today.

How do you become a ceramic artist in Ireland?

This is a question I get asked quite regularly now. Ceramics in Ireland, particularly for the emerging ceramic artist, can be challenging.

There are not that many opportunities to show your work or find an outlet to sell it locally here and even fewer galleries are willing to take on new talent with little experience. This lack of outlets means promoting yourself as an artist becomes more difficult than you would imagine – unless you want to start your own pop-up shop! Promoting ceramics does not always mean selling them either; sometimes all it takes is creating something beautiful out of clay which will hopefully inspire others around us through creativity and beauty. The real challenge comes when trying to make money from this craft too.

There are a few ways to get started, but the most important thing is to be creative and resourceful in your approach. I will list a few methods which I have found useful, but please note that this is not an exhaustive list!

• Firstly, start by joining or setting up a ceramic group with other artists. This can provide support both professionally and creatively and also give you opportunities to exhibit work collectively. There are several groups throughout Ireland, so do some research online or on social media to find one near you.
• Secondly, try exhibiting your work in local craft fairs or festivals – these tend to be quite diverse events with lots of different artisans showcasing their work. It’s also a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and make connections. I would recommend doing this as an addition to your other promotional activities, rather than as a replacement – it can be hard work!
• Thirdly, set up or join a crowdfunding platform such as Kickstarter (but also check out the smaller ones) where you can fundraise for new projects. This has been surprisingly successful; we raised enough money through our first campaign last year to print and promote my first book ‘Clay: Creative Exploration’, which was then sold in Waterstones’ across Ireland and shipped worldwide from their website. We will use this same method again next month to help fund another project of mine so watch this space…!!
• Finally, there are opportunities coming up regularly throughout the country run by the Crafts Council of Ireland, who offer excellent training and support for artists. Keep an eye on their website as they often have called for applications open to ceramicists.

The importance of marketing for emerging artists

There is no getting around it, if you want your ceramic art practice to succeed, you need to promote it. This means developing a marketing strategy and implementing it consistently. It can be difficult for emerging artists to find the time or money to invest in marketing, but it is essential if you want to reach new audiences and sell your work.

So where do you start? The first step is understanding what makes your work unique and why someone should buy it. Once you have a clear idea of your artistic voice, you can start creating targeted content that speaks to your audience. This might include writing artist statements, producing exhibition catalogs, or posting photos and videos of your work on social media.

You also need to make sure people know where to find your work. This means having a well-designed website and an up-to-date CV. You can also participate in art fairs, join ceramic societies, or give lectures and workshops on your practice.

The most important thing is to be consistent with your marketing efforts. It may take time to see results, but if you stay focused and continue reaching out to new audiences, you will start to see growth in your ceramic art career.

What are the benefits of marketing your work as an emerging artist?

There are many benefits of promoting your work as an emerging artist, including access to funding and better chances for sales. Emerging artists have a low price point and the ability to experiment with new styles and techniques that may not be stable enough at higher price points. It is also easier for emerging artists to get their pieces into major retailers such as Anthropologie or West Elm because they can offer lower prices due to smaller production runs than large manufacturers.

Hopefully, with time your marketing effort will pay off and you’ll become a household name. At this point, you might want to take extra measures to protect yourself and identity from falling into the wrong hands. We recommend using one of the many identity protection tools to protect yourself. Identity Guard was the clear winner when HSH compared it to Lifelock, another quality and reputable identity protection tool.

Why should you consider crowdfunding as a marketing technique?

Crowdfunding is an effective way to spread the word about your work and gain support for future projects. There are several different types of crowdfunding, including donation-based models where users can contribute money without receiving any benefits in return, equity crowdfunding that gives backers shares of the project’s profits, or just exclusive perks like one-of-a-kind items or access to events with an artist. These campaigns allow artists to raise funds while gaining valuable exposure online through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

What are some strategies for promoting ceramic art on Instagram?

Instagram provides visual content along with hashtags so other people can find it more easily when they search for related terms. Try using hashtags such as #ceramics, #pottery, and #clay to increase the visibility of your posts. You can also use geotags to target a specific location where you would like people to see your work. For example, if you are exhibiting in Dublin, tag your photos with “#Dublin” and more people in that area will be able to find them. Finally, make sure to include quality images of your work that are well-lit and showcase the pieces in their best light.

To sum it all,

The article has provided information on how to promote ceramics in Ireland. There are a few points that should be taken into consideration when promoting ceramic art in order for it to take off and become successful amongst the Irish people. These include educating potential buyers about your work, providing content that is interesting or amusing, and maintaining the authenticity of your brand. Promoting Ceramics in Ireland can be a rewarding experience if you make sure not to forget these tips!