A season of clay at the National Sculpture Factory. It celebrates clay as a fundamental and complex material. A key tenet of this clay season is to be witness to experts in moments of live practice, to look into the complexity of clay production and material negotiation. This season of clay presents the breadth of material practice from the skills of traditional practices to the urgency of this material vital to expressive and sculptural live practices. The programme of live practice and keynote live conversations will present deep insights into the production and elemental demands of this ancient and current material. This Festival is curated by artist Clare Twomey (UK), artist Nuala O’Donovan (Ire) and NSF curator Dobz O’Brien.

Sat 26th Aug

9.30am
An opening introduction to the thematics of CLAY Festival with festival curators Clare Twomey Dobz O’Brien and Nuala O’Donovan. 

10–12pm
Talks on Clay practices with Clare Twomey, Florence Peake, William Cobbing and Bernadette Tuite.

2–4pm | Live-Practice
Raku firing of pieces created at the ‘Live Bench’ with Bernadette Tuite. 

4–5 pm | Live-Conversation
Clare Twomey in-conversation with artist William Cobbing, followed by a open discussion where the audience can become involved in the conversation.