Álava will become an international meeting point for ceramics from October 8-12 with the celebration of the first edition of ALE!, the International Congress of Ceramics and Craftsmanship of Álava. Over five days, this event will bring together professionals, students, creators, and the public around ceramic training, creation, and dissemination.
The congress, organized by the Vitoria-Gasteiz School of Arts and Crafts, is sponsored by the Provincial Council of Álava, the Basque Government, and the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, with the collaboration of Fundación Vital, Laboral Kutxa, and the Legutio Town Council. The initiative aims to establish itself as a national and international reference.
The congress will feature a combination of masterclasses by renowned figures in contemporary ceramics, debates, round tables, a fair, ceramic cinema, artistic interventions, and live demonstrations in various spaces in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Legutio.
All information and registration details are available from today at [http://escueladeartes.org/ale/](http://escueladeartes.org/ale/).
The congress will commence on Thursday, October 8th, at the Ermita de la Magdalena in Legutio with the inauguration of BIRAKA, a ceramic mural dedicated to the career of the Álava-based ceramicist Blanka Gómez de Segura. An exhibition of her work will also open there and be visitable until November 8th.
Training will be a key focus. The School of Arts and Crafts' workshops will host three masterclasses aimed at professionals and creators: María Oriza on Friday, October 9th, Rafaela Pareja on the same Friday, and Ícaro Maiterena on Saturday, October 10th.
On Saturday the 10th, at the Artium Museum, the talk 'Manos, Barro y Memoria' and an open debate on the current state of ceramics will take place. The day will conclude with a Ceramic Dinner at Cube Artium.
On Sunday, October 11th, ALE! will take to the streets with ALEFEST! in the Plaza del Matxete, an open-air fair and exhibition designed to bring the work of artisans directly to the public. The day will feature various performances and demonstrations, concluding with a raffle of ceramic pieces.
The congress will conclude on Monday, October 12th, at the Artium Museum with a ceramic cineforum session, organized in collaboration with the International Ceramic Film Festival of Manises (CICEMA).
ALE! is conceived as a platform to promote the transmission of knowledge, bring contemporary creation closer to new audiences, strengthen links between students and professionals, and enhance the visibility of Álava's artisan sector.
