On February 8 and 9, 2023, the last meeting of the Clay project, started in 2018 and financed by the European Interreg program, took place in Seinäjoki, the capital of Southern Ostrobothnia (Finland).
On the first day, the participants explained their actions and goals achieved in their respective territories, especially with regard to innovation in ceramics in small and medium-sized companies in the sector.
The second day focused on practical and methodological issues for closing the project, which will end on May 31, 2023, but also discussed the prospects of continuing to collaborate between partners in the future and the possibility of applying for new European programs.
In addition to the working sessions, technical visits were carried out to learn about the work of institutions and artists linked to crafts and ceramics in the surroundings of Seinäjoki, despite the snow and the intense cold that it was on these dates in Finland. In this frame, we must point out the visit to the Ateljé Piiri (artistic creation center), with the meeting with some local artists and the visit and dinner at the Koskenkorvan Trahteeri. We must consider the meeting as a success of the project, which has achieved most of the objectives initially set.
All the project partners participated in this meeting: Ceramic and Glass Technology Center (CTCV) based in Coimbra (Portugal), Pole Européen de la Céramique from Limoges (France), ADR SV Oltenia from Valcea (Romania), Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia and the European Association of Cities of Ceramics (AEuCC, with presence in seven European countries) and the Umbria Region (Italy), leader of the project.
