Five-year grant awarded to support the Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture Series organised by the Crafts Study Centre, 318 Ceramics and The Royal College of Art, London
Crafts Study Centre - State Ceramics partnership
Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture series, 2026-2031
From 2026, the charity State Ceramics will support the Crafts Study Centre and 318 Ceramics to deliver the Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture series in partnership with the Royal College of Art.
The annual Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture has established itself as the pre-eminent public lecture in the field of British studio ceramics. The series began in 2014 to commemorate Emmanuel Cooper, a potter, editor, writer and activist who played a significant role in promoting and advancing studio ceramics throughout his career. A partnership was formed between the Crafts Study Centre, 318 Ceramics and the University for the Creative Arts to deliver lectures with the blessing of Emmanuel’s partner David Horbury. Since the first lecture that was delivered by Professor Simon Olding, the lecture series has welcomed established names including former Rector of the Royal College of Art and writer Christopher Frayling and ceramic artists Alison Britton, Felicity Aylieff and, most recently in 2025, Julian Stair.
With the support of State Ceramics, the Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture will continue to attract high profile speakers – practitioners, researchers, writers and curators – to deliver an annual lecture at The Royal College of Art. Extra resources will enable more effective dissemination of the lectures through digital channels as well as wider promotion. Partners also intend to enhance the impact of the annual lecture, ensuring a ripple effect outward from the date of the lecture throughout the year and explore ways the lecture series might lead to further activity or publications. All these ambitions reflect the mutual commitment of State Ceramics, the Crafts Study Centre, 318 Ceramics and the Royal College of Art to spread awareness of the vitality of studio ceramics, encourage debate, and prompt further research within the field.
About State Ceramics
State Ceramics, formed in 2024, was founded with the purpose of promoting scholarship, research and debate in the field of studio ceramics. Through the awarding of grants for research and support for exhibitions and events, State Ceramics intends to broaden the public appreciation of studio ceramics and advance study within the field.
About the Crafts Study Centre
The Crafts Study Centre at the University for the Creative Arts is a specialist university museum and research centre, open to the public. It is home to internationally acclaimed collections of modern and contemporary British craft, in the fields of calligraphy and lettering, ceramics, textiles, and furniture and wood, as well as archival material including diaries, working notes and photographs. The Centre hosts exhibitions by leading artist-makers, lectures, symposiums and open days. The Centre’s Research Room and Library are available by appointment for those interested in learning more about our collections. Admission to the Crafts Study Centre and its exhibitions is free. Events are free to attend, but booking is recommended,
About 318 Ceramics
318 Ceramics is a community of artists and students based in Coxbridge Farm, Farnham, that provides instruction in various ceramic techniques, with a full programme of term-time classes, one-off workshops, demonstrations and masterclasses. Working side-by-side in a friendly environment, students and tutors are encouraged to support one another and nurture artistic growth, with a focus on providing practical skills.
Emmanuel Cooper, Bowl, 2005. Stoneware with volcanic lustre glaze. Crafts Study Centre Collections, 2005.23.
Emmanuel Cooper, Jug, 2005. Porcelain with yolk yellow glaze and gold lustre decoration. Crafts Study Centre Collections, 2005.22.
