About the Fresh Talent Prizes
The Fresh Talent Prizes seek to recognise artists of significant emerging talent exhibiting in Fresh. Four early-career artists will be awarded a Fresh Talent Prize, comprising a cash award and a residency through partnerships with Guldagergaard International Ceramics Research Center in Denmark, Grymsdyke Farm in Buckinghamshire, University of Staffordshire and the BCB Studio, both of which are based in Stoke-on-Trent. Fresh Talent Prize winners are also invited to show their work at the next Biennial, taking place in autumn 2027.
Guldagergaard International Ceramics Research Center (ICRC)
Guldagergaard ICRC is a ceramic research specialist centre with a focus on the artists-in-residence they host, and on helping to foster an international network among artists.
“This residency has inspired me to push the boundaries of my practice, embracing new perspectives and innovative approaches in my future work…”
Krzysztof Strzelecki
Fresh Talent Prize winner 2023
The Guldagergaard ICRC prize includes:
- 4-week residency
- Award of £2,500
- Residency accommodation, studio space and an allowance for materials and firing
- Critical assessment and development opportunity via artist talk / presentation during residency
- Exhibition at Claytopia Festival at Guldagergaard
- Presentation opportunity at BCB 2027
The artist awarded this prize will need to organise and pay for their travel and transport of work. They will also be required to leave one artwork behind to be added to the Guldagergaard Collection. Artists are likely to need to provide their own materials in addition to allowance listed above.
Learn more about Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center and its facilities.
Grymsdyke Farm
Grymsdyke Farm is a research facility, fabrication workshop and living-working space for architects, artists, designers and those interested in materials and processes of making. Based in the village of Lacey Green in Buckinghamshire, they run workshops, seminars and residencies with the aim of exploring the essential connections between processes of design, making and place.
“Grymsdyke Farm is truly a unique place for thinking and experimenting. The workshops are crammed to the gills with the results of previous artists/designers’ experiments, outcomes, successes and failures and a real freedom of thinking permeates the place.”
Caroline Gray
Fresh Talent Prize Winner 2023
The Grymsdyke Farm Prize includes:
- 4-week residency
- Award of £2,500
- Residency accommodation, studio/workshop access and basic recycled materials allowance
- Presentation opportunity at BCB 2027
The artist awarded this prize will be asked to contribute up to two artworks to Grymsdyke Farm’s small-scale editioning and sales operation. The proceeds of which support future artist residencies. Artists are likely to need to provide their own materials in addition to the allowance listed above.
Learn more about Grymsdyke Farm and its facilities.
University of Staffordshire
The University of Staffordshire is based in Stoke-on-Trent, a city renowned for its ceramic industry. Its facilities include state-of-the-art ceramics equipment, along with 3D scanning and extensive 3D printing facilities across different materials. Research conducted in the ceramics department is world leading with significant impact in the international field of ceramics.
“I was so inspired and finally felt a connection to the heritage of ceramics. I began to investigate how I could bring a nod to this rich history in my work…”
Tim Fluck
Fresh Talent Prize Winner, 2023
The University of Staffordshire prize includes:
- 5-week residency
- Award of £2,500
- Residency accommodation and studio/workshop access
- Development opportunities via delivering artist talks, demonstrations and practice-based discussions with students
- Presentation opportunity at BCB 2027
The artist awarded this prize will be responsible for providing their own materials.
Learn more about the University of Staffordshire and its facilities.
British Ceramics Biennial
The British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) Studio is a space to work with clay, based in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent at Spode Works. It is a place for people working in clay to meet others, learn and share skills. The resident artist will have a studio space to work from, access to equipment including electric kilns, wheels, slab roller, basic glaze and plaster facilities and access to a network of artists, researchers and curators.
“On location, I felt a welcomed part of the BCB studio. Talking to the staff, members and associate artists as they brought work in after completing projects in the community was a highlight for me. It was inspiring to see how ceramics was being used as a starting point for positive experiences with so many diverse groups.”
Andrea Leigh
Fresh Talent Prize Winner, 2023
The BCB Studio prize includes:
- 4-week residency
- Award of £2,500
- Residency accommodation, studio space and opportunity to use studio reclaim when available
- Presentation opportunity at BCB 2027
The artist awarded this prize will likely need to provide their own materials in addition to the allowance listed above.
Learn more about the BCB Studio.
