Free Webinars and Workshops for Ceramists
Ceramic Futures 2.0: ceramic craftsmanship and WAAM technology come together in a unique journey between tradition and future.
Is it possible to develop synergies between the technical and manual skills of master ceramists and the precision of advanced robotics? We will try to answer this question with Ceramic Futures 2.0, the new experimental course designed for ceramists, designers, and students, developed by Artex in collaboration with MX3D, a company specializing in robotic metal 3D printing systems. Both are partners in the Horizon Europe Tracks4Crafts project, which is co-funded by the European Commission for the five-year period 2023-2027.
Building on the initiatives carried out in 2024 (see the webinars here), Ceramic Futures 2.0 aims to explore the possibilities of cross-fertilization between artisan ceramics and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), one of the most innovative techniques in metal 3D printing. In order to do this, we are organising two online introductory sessions on the topic, on March 10 and 17 at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom, and a two-day in-person workshop on March 31 and April 1 at Officina Creativa LAB (Via Giano della Bella 20, Florence).
SIGN UP FOR THE IN – PERSON WORKSHOP
The program will be enriched by the valuable tutoring and scientific guidance of Professor Gabriele Goretti, Prsident of the Industrial Design Engineering Degree Program at the University of Pisa, DESTEC – Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Construction Engineering; and Caterina Dastoli, Assistant Professor in Design, University of Pisa, School of Engineering, DESTEC Department.
Calendar:
WEBINAR 1: March 10, 3:30–5:30 p.m. – Ceramic Futures 2.0: enabling technologies for ceramic craftsmanship, from design to production, examples from engineering and design. Curated by Artex, with the participation of Gabriele Goretti and Caterina Dastoli from the University of Pisa, DESTEC Department.
WEBINAR 2: March 17, 3:30–5:30 p.m. – WAAM technology: metal 3D printing and possible ceramic synergies. Organized by Artex, with the participation of Filippo Gilardi, R&D manager at MX3D, and Gabriele Goretti, University of Pisa, DESTEC Departments.
WORKSHOP: March 31, 2:00–5:00 p.m. – Presentation of the program, formation of working groups. April 1, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 2:00–5:00 p.m. – Planning and co-design. Both days are organized by Artex in collaboration with MX3D and the team from the University of Pisa, composed by Gabriele Goretti, and Caterina Dastoli.
The project is open to:
- Professional ceramists in possesion of a VAT or registred with the Chamber of Commerce
- Design and planning students
- Designers
The goal is ambitious: to create common ground between traditional skills and emerging technologies, to form working groups composed by a craftperson and one or two students/designers, and to start a dialogue in order to generate ideas, projects, and new forms of contemporary craftsmanship. Following the two virtual meetings, during the workshop, the craftperson/student partnerships will be defined and the actual experimentation will begin. The different ideas will be developed by the various groups through targeted mentoring by the University of Pisa and MX3D, with periodic reviews. The initial results will be analyzed in mid-April, and the final presentation will take place during an online event which will be open to the European public.
To enrich the program, a professional ceramist will have the opportunity to apply for a two-week residency at MX3D in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and continue the experimentation begun with Ceramic Futures 2.0.
CLICK HERE, DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE AND SIGN UP NOW
More info: c.materassi@artex.firenze.it
Tracks4Crafts (Transforming crafts knowledge for a sustainable, inclusive and economically viable heritage in Europe) is a Horizon Europe project (2023-2027) co-funded by the European Commission, which aims to analyze and improve the transmission of traditional crafts knowledge (TCK) in order to promote the social and economic values of craftsmanship, aligning itself with a future-oriented approach to European heritage. Artex is running a pilot case study on the ceramics sector, Ceramic Futures, offering workshops and seminars, both in person and online, to introduce new technologies, techniques, and strategies. The activities aim to strengthen the entrepreneurial and creative skills of artisans by offering innovative continuous training courses.
The Ceramic Futures 2.0 course is part of a joint initiative between Artex and MX3D, partners of Tracks4Crafts, as part of a collaborative experiment that aims to hybridize and cross-pollinate fields of application in order to respond to project demands.