OPEN CALL: ATHENA! CLAY FAIR

Dok-Noord 5L, 9000 Ghent

29/01/2025 – 02/03/2025

DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATION:  Sun, 02.03.2025 (00:00)

ATHENA! takes place from 17 – 18 May 2025 from 11:00 – 18:00h.
Address: 019, Dok-Noord 5C, 9000 Gent, Belgium

OPEN CALL for all ceramic artists that play on the edge of usable objects and sculptural artworks. We are looking for experimental and unexpected pieces that cross the border of the ordinary. ATHENA! offers the opportunity for collectors, craft enthusiasts and anyone willing to discover work from local and international ceramic artists. Browse and buy utensils, decorative pieces and artworks from about thirty different artists.

Unlike at most art fairs, the participation fee will be very low for all the participants. (100€) ATHENA! is considering a solidarity system in which 80% of the funds will be used to reimburse a part of the travel and accommodation costs for artists travelling from abroad. That way the income can flow back to those who had to incur costs in order to participate. The remaining 20% is used for production costs made by 019.We seek a composition of very different, diverse styles, where each maker has found or is exploring their individual form of expression, and is on a constantly changing trajectory in doing so. We look for ceramic artists that make utensils but also express themselves in decorative pieces and are exploring their way to making their own artworks.Those who subscribe to the open call should best indicate whether their ceramics are more suited to a rack or stand, or are sculptural and more suited to an exhibition space. 019 will decide where which participant will be placed within the total scenography. Of course, this can be done in consultation with the artist, taking into account certain needs or requirements related to the ceramics.All works are for sale! In case your work is for sale in a stand; you man your own stand, payment is made directly with the seller, sold works can be taken home instantly. In case your work is for sale via the ‘exhibition / scenography’ set-up; supervision is provided by ATHENA!.

Payment of a sold work will happen via ATHENA! (100% for the artist), pick-up of sold works will happen after the fair.ATHENA! will primarily be a fair or market where visitors can buy all the pieces at democratic prices, but the set-up and scenography will play an important role at the very specific and artful location in the 019. The team of 019 will design a total scenography, assigning all the creators a place in a larger whole that will define the shape of ATHENA !

NEW: This year, Design Museum Gent will commission an upcoming talented ceramic artist to create a sculptural vase for its new wing DING (Design in Gent). Reopening of the museum is scheduled for Spring 2026. The piece will also be included in the exhibition part of ATHENA !

ATHENA ! Is a project by 019, Elke Vanlerberghe (ceramic artist LERRY ceramics) and Design Museum Gent. If there are any questions or comments regarding the ATHENA ! Clay Fair you can send an email to athena@019-ghent.org

🏛 🏺 INSTAGRAM 🏺🏛

APPLY HERE.