Obsolescence and Renewal, Transitions, Sustainability and Intangible Heritage in North Staffordshire's Ceramic Industry

The Reginald Haggar Memorial Lecture is an annual event which is organised by the Reginald Haggar Memorial Lecture Committee, Keele University. Speakers have included Dr Tristram Hunt, Christopher Frayling, Jenny Uglow, Oliver Watson, Gillian Naylor, Fiona MacCarthy, Margaret Drabble, Dr Simon Thurley, Cornelia Parker. For nearly three decades Neil Brownsword's artistic practice has reflected upon transitions in North Staffordshire's ceramic industry, drawing particular attention to the value and sustainability of its intangible heritage. In collaboration with a senior generation of industrial artisans, Brownsword restages their endangered practices through performative works at prestigious venues which have included the Korea Ceramic Foundation, Ashmolean and Victoria and Albert Museum. His interventions highlight the nuances of their craft and offer a new layer of production that re-imagines the histories and influences of traditional manufacture. In this lecture he will discuss the various projects and collaborations which have constituted his practice, including the British Ceramics Biennial and Topographies of the Obsolete, which continue to mediate his research internationally. Biography Neil Brownsword holds Professorial positions at Staffordshire University and University of Bergen. His work is represented in collections internationally including the V&A and Korea Ceramic Foundation. In 2015 he was awarded the Grand Prize at the Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale, South Korea