2024 IAC Congress in Portugal
![]() Farewell party at the Caldas da Rainha Arts Centre. ©Carlos Sejam Felizes Porra |
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2024 IAC Congress: Portugal at the bat! |
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The 2024 IAC Congress took place from 16 to 20 September in the neighbouring towns of Alcobaça and Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. Hosted by the Portuguese Association of Ceramic Cities and Villages (AptCVC) with the support of both municipalities, this 51st Congress welcomed over 300 participants to a dynamic programme of activities. These two historic cities, each with a rich ceramic tradition, provided an ideal setting for Congress participants and ceramics enthusiasts from all over the world, creating an atmosphere of total immersion in the warmth and vibrancy of Mediterranean culture. The five-day programme began with an opening ceremony, with speeches from local officials and a keynote address on the Congress theme, “Ceramics in the Mediterranean: from Antiquity to Contemporaneity”, delivered by Alexandre Nobre Pais, President of the Agency for Museums and Monuments of Portugal. This set the scene for the discussions that followed, with panel discussions, thematic presentations and breakout sessions organised over the next two days. The first day’s focus, “Ceramic Confluences in the Mediterranean: A Historical View”, looked back at the ceramic traditions of the Mediterranean, while the following day, explored modern themes in “Ceramics in Contemporaneity: Reality, Relations and Confrontations in the Mediterranean World”. The IAC/UNESCO Evening highlighted the IAC’s mission to spread ceramic art as a form of humanitarian action, reinforcing the diplomatic and cultural objectives of the organisation. |
Several national and international exhibitions were organised as part of the Congress. These included three IAC member exhibitions: “Mediterranean Ceramics and their Global Influence” (international), “Contemporary Portuguese Ceramics” (national) and “Azulejos” (international suitcase exhibition). Other satellite exhibitions showcased the diversity and richness of the region’s historic and contemporary ceramics. To complete the programme, Congress participants had the opportunity to visit important cultural sites around Alcobaça and Caldas da Rainha, explore local ceramic workshops and visit active ceramic factories in the region. The experience was completed with a visit to Lisbon, including tours of the National Tile Museum and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum – an essential part of any visit to Portugal. The week ended with a memorable farewell party, where the Portuguese mayors officially passed the baton to representatives from Jingdezhen, China, the next host city of the IAC Congress. The evening was filled with music, dancing and delicious food, bringing participants together one last time to celebrate the success of the Congress and the shared spirit of the international ceramics community.
For additional details, please visit the 2024 Congress website here. |
![]() Opening of IAC Members’ Exhibition at the Armazém das Artes, Alcobaça. © Gao Daqing |
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![]() IAC Members’ Exhibition “Azulejos”. © Carlos Sejam Felizes Porra |
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