Potters from the Grand-Ouest meet in Saint-Jean-La-Poterie

Saint-Jean-La-Poterie: a place of art and history

 

The main themes at “Le Patiau” were

1- Argile Bretagne and its missions

2- Potters’ needs and economic challenges

3- Training and transmission

4- The craftsmen mental health

5- New opportunities and markets for ceramics

 

Present throughout the two days, an ideographer summarised the proceedings in the form of a mind map.

1st Interprofessional Meeting of Ceramic Conservation, Distribution and Production Sites in the Great West | Le Patiau

Presentation of Le Patiau: https://lepatiau.com/

 

The First “Interprofessional Meeting of Ceramic Places in the Great West” took place on 3 and 4 October 2024 at Le Patiau in Saint-Jean-la-Poterie.

Organised by “Le Patiau” in collaboration with the municipality of Saint-Jean-la-Poterie, these meetings brought together ceramists, craftspeople and cultural players to discuss the challenges and issues they face in their profession.

While this initiative is innovative, it is also in keeping with a tradition that is deeply rooted in the history of pottery: collaboration and mutual help. In the past, potters would gather around collective firings, which involved not only themselves but also the villagers, transforming these moments into social events.

With the modernisation of kilns and changing practices, these exchanges have become rarer, often plunging potters into isolation. And yet this craft remains intrinsically linked to the idea of sharing: sharing techniques, ideas and, today, solutions to economic and technical challenges.

 

Against this backdrop, these meetings have created a space that is conducive to reconnecting with this community spirit, which is essential in a craft where passion alone is not always enough to guarantee longevity.

Find out more about the themes discussed: networks of professional ceramists, suitable further training courses, how to meet economic challenges, taking care of your mental health, pooling distribution and sales channels.

Saint-Jean-La-Poterie: a place of art and history

 

“Le Patiau” in pictures

 

Alexis Matull, Mayor of Saint-Jean-La-Poterie, opened the event with a presentation of his municipality. He showed just how much this area, rich in geological and historical heritage, was a good place to immerse yourself in the world of ceramics.

In fact, pottery activity here dates back to the Roman occupation!

 

The story of Saint-Jean-La-Poterie

 

The main themes discussed at the conference

 

The two-day event was punctuated by several presentations that tackled some of the most pressing issues facing ceramists today. In addition to the inspiring “Galerie des Arts du feu” a Rouen and “La Maison du potier” in Le Fuilet, “Argile Bretagne” presentation particularly caught our attention.

 

1- Argile Bretagne and its missions

Founded in 1985, Argile Bretagne association now brings together 136 ceramists from the Greater West of France. Its main mission is to promote ceramics, help their members to sale and facilitate communication between the public and ceramists. The association also proposes workshop to organise events in the region, lists professional training courses tailored to the needs of craftspeople, and offers preferential rates for glazes analyses for edibility.

The participants stressed the importance of this organisation which breaks from isolation and addresses the challenges of the profession.

Argile Bretagne: https://www.argile-bretagne.com/

On the left, its president, Anne Lécuyer

https://www.annelecuyer.fr/

 

2- Potters’ needs and economic challenges

The speakers raised a key issue: how to make a living from this exciting but demanding profession? Discussions touched on the production high costs, the travel to fairs and markets and the need for communication skills, which can be a source of stress for potters. Quality of raw materials and relationships with suppliers was also raised, as was the difficulty of finding sustainable sales channels.

The mental burden of sales management was identified as an obstacle, particularly for young ceramists at the start of their careers.

 

3- Training and transmission

Participants highlighted the need for an ongoing training tailored to the specific challenges of the profession, with programmes offered by the CMA (Chambre des Métiers et de l’Artisanat) and technical courses.

This training is even more important now with a proliferation of non-qualifying courses when the profession must guarantee a high level of skill more than ever. Organisations such as “La Maison du Potier” in Le Fuilet and “Le Patiau” are already offering workshops and practice areas to help ceramists deepen their knowledge and develop new skills.

 

 

4- The craftsmen mental health

Isolation and economic insecurity can have repercussions on the mental health of potters. Argile Bretagne has set up a support network to respond to situations of distress, encouraging ceramists to talk about their difficulties and to seek help when needed.

This caring and supportive aspect was strongly emphasised during the meetings.

 

Testimony of Richard Dewaer

https://www.instagram.com/richarddewarceramics/

 

5- New opportunities and markets for ceramics

The ceramists present spoke of the need to diversify their marketing methods. In addition to traditional markets, partnerships with specialist fairs, such as those for gastronomy, were mentioned as a way of reaching new audiences. Argile Bretagne is also working on projects for shared stands and online platforms, aimed at offering potters alternative ways of selling their work.

 

Presentation of the map of ceramists’ markets currently in the Grand-Ouest

 

Conclusion and outlook for the future

These first inter-professional meetings proved to be very enriching, laying the foundations for a lasting collaboration between ceramists and the distribution structures of the Grand-Ouest. The convivial, non-competitive atmosphere enabled participants to share their experiences and envisage joint solutions.

This type of meeting is essential for a school like Créamik, which trains future professionals; it will give them a supportive network.

While we hope that a second edition will be held, with even more participants, we can already see that this initiative is helping to strengthen the ceramics community by facilitating dialogue, learning and mutual support.