Who is Fresh for?

Fresh 2025 is looking for artists at a launch moment in their practice. This exhibition platforms emerging talent, representing artists from a variety of backgrounds. From self-taught artists to recent graduates and community workshop makers, Fresh celebrates artistic discovery and champions the courage of new beginnings.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Fresh 2025, you must:

• Have been maintaining a sustained commitment to creative practice with clay for between 3 and 7 years.

This might include studio pottery, design, socially engaged practice, sculpting, performance, installation, object making, film or audio-based practice.

• Be living in the UK or Ireland from the point of application to November 2025.

If you have said yes to these two points, you can apply for Fresh 2025.

Additional details are on the Fresh FAQs page. If you still have questions regarding eligibility, please get in touch: apply@britishceramicsbiennial.com

What do the selected artists receive?

Each exhibitor in Fresh will receive a £300 exhibition payment and £50 towards the transportation of the work to and from the exhibition venue. Fresh exhibitors will benefit from a national PR and marketing campaign. Exhibitors in Fresh will also be considered for the Fresh Talent Prizes.

Expectations of the selected artists

We invite artists to apply for Fresh by filling out the application form via our website and uploading up to five supporting files of the artwork they would like to exhibit in Fresh. The work you submit must already exist and be made within the last three years. Artists are responsible for delivering and collecting their own artworks to/from the Biennial site in Stoke-on-Trent. Selected exhibitors who are based in the Republic of Ireland are expected to manage customs paperwork and charges incurred in sending or delivering the work to and from the exhibition site.

Fresh 2025 selection panel

The Fresh selection panel comprises leading professionals who are advocates for emerging contemporary art and making alongside a youth panel. The selection panel reviews all applications, bringing a variety of perspectives to the decision-making process.

The selection panel considers the following criteria:

• High quality and ambition of the submitted work
• The potential impact of selection on the development of the artists’ practice and career
• Sustained commitment to practice

Diversity and inclusion

We recognise that there is a lack of diversity in the ceramics sector. As an organisation we share responsibility in addressing systemic inequalities by increasing representation of diverse artists and practice in our Biennial, exhibitions and events programmes.

We’re undertaking our responsibility to address under-representation and remove barriers in accessing opportunities by adapting our systems, improving our communications and expanding our networks. We aim for our actions to lead to an increase in applications from artists who feel their identity and background are currently under-represented. We welcome conversations with anyone with ideas and networks that can help progress this work more quickly.

Key dates for Fresh 2025

Access support

Access support is available to individuals who feel they face barriers in making an application. A BCB team member is available to help with your application or to offer advice in advance of your application.

Any advice we give on applying is for the artists and artwork eligibility. It will have no bearing on its assessment during the selection panel.

If you have any questions about eligibility or access support, please contact apply@britishceramicsbiennial.com.

The submission deadline for Fresh 2025 is

12 noon, 4 June 2025