Open Call: 2025 13th Shiwan Cup Ceramic Art Competition
Ethereal Aspirations encapsulates the profound essence of "shaping clay into vessels, nurturing the essence of beauty and talent." It upholds the mission of "encouraging innovation, discovering new talent, and revitalizing classics."Chinese ceramics have long played a vital role in the evolution of human civilization. In recent years, Chinese ceramic art has undergone rapid transformation, driven by the burgeoning development of cultural and tourism industries in key ceramic production areas. The "Shiwan Cup," successfully held for 12 consecutive editions, has both witnessed and contributed to the evolution of Chinese ceramic art. In this transformative period for both Chinese and international ceramic art, guided by the mission to "encourage innovation, nurture emerging talents, and reinterpret classics," this year’s event aspires to highlight the latest trends and achievements in international ceramic art.Shiwan, located at the forefront of China’s earliest reform and opening-up initiatives in the Greater Bay Area, is renowned for its rich ceramic heritage and world-leading architectural ceramics industry. This region, blessed with natural beauty and a tradition of fostering exceptional talent, holds a unique place in the realm of creative and cultural excellence. The "Shiwan Cup" competition is dedicated to promoting and developing contemporary ceramic art and culture. It emphasizes an international perspective, encouraging young artists and ceramic practitioners to courageously explore ceramic language and create artworks that embody the spirit of contemporary culture. As a cultural beacon of international influence, it remains committed to supporting national cultural strategies and contributing to the development of the Greater Bay Area. The 13th "Shiwan Cup" International Youth Ceramic Sculpture and Architectural Ceramics Art Competition 2025 will continue to establish a new platform for international and regional exchange and cooperation, using ceramic culture as a medium. It will gather the latest creative achievements from the fields of ceramic sculpture and architectural ceramics worldwide, sharing the creative experiences and outstanding works of excellent artists. The competition aims to foster the growth of urban areas and the ceramic industry, provide innovative vitality for the cultivation of young talents, enhance regional cultural identity and confidence, and promote the spirit of inheritance and innovation of Shiwan ceramics in Foshan, Guangdong. I. Organizational Structure: Organizers: China Ceramic Industry Association Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum International Academy of Ceramics Undertaker: Foshan Shiwan Cultural Industry Investment Co., Ltd. Academic Director: Wan Liya Curator: Wan Liya Exhibition Coordinators: Ruan Xiaojia Overseas Assistant Curator: Sin-ying Ho Assistant Curators: Rong Yao, Huang Ting, Zhu Haoran Academic Supports: Academy of Literature and Arts of Chinese National Academy of Arts Central Academy of Fine Arts Institute of Ceramic Art Research China Academy of Art School of Crafts Jingdezhen Ceramic University School of Ceramic Art Nanjing University of the Arts Shanxi University Academy of Fine Art Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts Academy of Arts and Crafts Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts College of Arts and Crafts Design Hubei Institute of Fine Arts South China Normal University School of Fine Arts Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Design Academy Jilin University of the Arts School of Design Shanghai University Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, School of Fine Arts Taoxichuan Art Center, JingdezhenJingdezhen Vocational University of Art, Faculty of Ceramic Technology and Art Longquan Wangou . Taoxichuan Art Center Hong Kong Art School Macau University of Science and Technology Faculty of Humanities and Arts National Taiwan University of Arts Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts (Japan) America Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) USA Museum of Ceramic Art – New York (MoCA-NY) USA The Clay Studio (USA) Peters Valley School of Craft (USA) Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts (USA) Art Ichol (India) Gimhae Museum of Art (Republic of Korea) II. Theme: “Ethereal Aspirations” III. Eligibility 1. The competition is open to domestic and international young ceramicartists, designers, teachers, students at colleges and universities, and cross-disciplinary creators. 2. Participants must be between 18 and 45 years old, including thosewho are 45 years old. 3. Each participant is allowed to submit 1 to 2 pieces (sets) of their workFor jurying. IV. Requirements of the artwork 1. The artwork uniquely leverages ceramics as the primary medium, creating a dynamic interplay between form and space. It is thoughtfully placed within space, transforming it into an immersive artistic environment. We encourage applicants to embrace innovation and expression by flexibly applying mixed materials. We advocate for the exploration and integration of new materials, techniques, processes, media, technologies and forward thinking. Our aim is to highlight the potential of these elements in creating compelling and expressive art pieces. We promote the integration of regional culture and multiculturalism, and champion the collaboration of art and industry. 2. Entries must be original works created by the participants within the last three years. They should not have entered any major provincial or higher-level art competitions, published, mass-produced, or have any third-party contractual obligations. Any violations will result in disqualification from the competition, exhibition, and awards. 3. The size of floor and wall works submitted for the competition should, in principle, not exceed 4 square meters.(For questions regarding the size of the works and other inquiries, please consult the organizing committee.) V. Prizes (Cash Award is RMB before tax) For this competition, a total of 100 works (or sets) will be selected as shortlist. The prizes will be chosen from these selected shortlists. - Grand Prize, one winner, RMB 180,000 + award certificate + exhibition catalogue - First Prize, one winner, RMB 80,000 + award certificate + exhibition catalogue - Second Prize, three winners, RMB 50,000 per person + award certificate + exhibition catalogue - Third Prize, five winners, RMB 30,000 per person + award certificate + exhibition catalogue - New Talent Prize, ten winners, RMB 3,000 per person +award certificate + exhibition catalogue - Excellence Award, twenty winners, award Certificate + exhibition catalogue - The rest of Shortlisted Award, Shortlist certificate + exhibition catalogue VI. Winners' benefits 1. The Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum will provide individual or group publicity for the prize-winning works and their creators. It will hold an exhibition showcasing the finalists’ works and publish a catalogue for publicity and distribution.The aim is to enhance the popularity of both the winners and their works. 2. Works that win third prize and above will be collected by the Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum, and a collection certificate will be issued. 3. Award-winners of the competition can benefit from the cultural industry support policies of Shiwan Township. Efforts will be made to connect outstanding artists and designers with enterprise, leveraging the strong supply chain of Foshan's ceramic industry to assist in the market transformation and development of their works. VII. Submission guidelines 1. Please read this call for entries carefully. You can obtain the registration form by:(1) Scanning the QR code provided in the document to access the form in either Chinese or English. (2) Visiting the Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum website at https://www.swcm.org.cn/MuseumNews/NewsDetail?tro=MuseumNews&menuCode=Inner&id=88c8518ecc85496a99547370ef557d35 and downloading the registration form in Chinese or English from the attachments section.2. You can submit your registration form and entry materials until July 31. Bundle the registration form and competition materials, then send them to the email: shiwanbei@126.com When sending your documents, please use the following format for the folder name: “Creator’s Name - Region - Country”. 3. For further details, please contact the staff of the Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum. Phone: +86- 0757-82701218 (Office), +86 18138361140 (Ms. Wang) /+86-13247573884 (Ms. Feng). VIII. No entry fee IX. Specific Requirements for Competition Registration 1. Description of work:Provide details including the title, theme, concept, year of creation, dimensions (length * width * height) (should not exceed two meters in any direction), weight, and materials. 2. Images of work: Submit electronic photos of the work from various angles (front, side, and detail shots). For installations and new media works, include an overall effect diagram, display requirements, and installation instructions. Send the registration form for preliminary selection as a folder named "Participant Name + Region + Country" to the designated email. Photos should be in JPG format, between 1MB and 5MB, with a resolution of 300dpi. 3. Resume: Include educational background, professional experience (selected exhibition selections, solo exhibitions, and related honors), etc. Ⅹ.Timeline1. Registration Stage: Currently Open - July 31, 2025, 11:59pm (Beijing, China UTC+8) 2. Preliminary Selection Stage:August 9 - August 14, 2025. Jurying process: The organizers will invite experts to form a review panel. This panel will conduct a preliminary selection of all entries and select 100 pieces (sets) of shortlisted works. (online jurying) 3. The announcement of the preliminary selection results:August 15th August 17th , 2025. (3 days) The duration of the publicity period will be three days. In the event of a copyright dispute within this period, the participant may face disqualification. The roster of shortlist works, along with the names of their creators, will be made public on the official WeChat account of the Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum. The organizers will extend an invitation to the finalists to partake in the final selection and exhibition, via telephone or Email. Please note that individuals not selected in the preliminary round will not receive any notification. 4. Delivery Stage: August 18 - September 30, 2025. Remark: Domestic Shipping Period: August 18 – September 8 International Shipping Period: August 18 – September 30 Finalists must send their shortlisted works via logistics or deliver them in person to the jurying and exhibition venue (Foshan Chancheng Meitaowan·Xingguanghui Art Museum, located at the intersection of Lujing West Road and Xingguang Road, Chancheng District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province) between August 18 and September 30, starting from the date of receiving the finalists notification. Finalists are responsible for all shipping costs, including freight, insurance, customs duties, and handling fees. Works must arrive at the designated final jurying location within the specified timeframe. Failure to do so will be considered a voluntary withdrawal. (Foreign artists are advised to use sea freight and comply with their country's export regulations) Guidelines for Submitting Physical Artwork: The physical artwork for submission must correspond with the images initially provided during the preliminary selection. Proper packaging and handling of the artwork are crucial. It should be safeguarded within a waterproof, moisture-proof, and shockproof wooden crate, designed to withstand the rigors of long-distance sea and air transportation.The crate should be robust yet manageable. For ease of identification by the organizer, please ensure the finalist’s name, the title of the work, and an image of the work are clearly marked on the crate. This will streamline the receipt and processing of the work by the organizer. Maintaining Anonymity and Fairness: Exhibition materials, such as images, presentations, and videos of your work, must include the title “Shiwan Cup”. However, they should not contain any identifying information. This includes the name of your company, your name (including English or Pinyin abbreviations), or any symbols or graphics related to your identity. If such information is included, the work will be deemed invalid. This ensures a fair and unbiased evaluation process. 5. Final Jury Stage: October 12, 2025 (1). On-Site Jury: The organizer will extend invitations to experts to constitute a jury panel. This panel will conduct an on-site jurying of the shortlisted works and determine the recipients of all prizes. (2). Announcement of Final Jurying Results: The results will be publicized for a period of three days. 6. Return of Works : Works that have received the New Talent Award, the Excellence Award, and those that were shortlisted will be returned to their creators following the conclusion of the exhibition. The museum will bear the responsibility and costs associated with the return of these works. Creators also have the option to personally collect their works from a designated location. Furthermore, the museum graciously accepts donations from authors and will issue certificates of donation in recognition of such contributions. XI. Rights and Liabilities 1. All submitted works must be original and free from plagiarism. Shortlisted and prize-winning works will be published online for a period of 3 days. If a copyright dispute arises during this period, the entry in question will be disqualified. 2. Participants are required to provide accurate information upon registration. While the organizers will not substantively review the authenticity of participants’ identities, any false information could impact their eligibility, rights to awards, and other related honors. 3. The creator must hold the copyright to their own work, possessing independent, complete, clear, and undisputed copyright. The work must comply with relevant national laws and regulations. The creator assumes legal responsibility for the portrait rights and copyright of the design. The creator also agrees to grant the organizer the license to use the creator’s portrait rights, the entry, and all intellectual property rights. This includes the rights for research, photography, promotion, exhibition, publication, and other forms of promotion and publicity of the work, without the requirement of any fees. 4. If a participant fails to submit their work to the organizing committee in time for the on-site jurying and exhibition after receiving the shortlisted notice, they will be considered to have withdrawn from the competition. 5. The Grand prize of the competition, along with the first, second, and third prizes, will be collected by the Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum. The museum will collect all the works in their entirety, and these works cannot be split or replaced. 6. If the shortlisted works are damaged or lost before they arrive at the final jury site for acceptance, the responsibility lies with the participants, and the organizer will not be liable for any damage incurred during transportation. If the outer packaging box of the shortlisted works is seriously damaged upon arrival at the final jurying site, the organizer reserves the right to reject them. Furthermore, if the shortlisted works are found to be damaged when they are unpacked, the organizer will not be held responsible. 7. If the shortlisted works arrive at the final jury site with minor damage, participants can ensure their participation in the final jurying by repairing the works at their own expense. If a participant requires the organizer’s assistance in repairing the work, they must provide a suggestion for repair or a video of the work. The organizer can assist in the repair but will not be held responsible for any issues that arise during the repair process. 8. If the shortlisted works are combinations or installations, participants can go to the final jury site to set up and arrange their works at their own expense. Participants who need the organizer’s assistance for installation must provide detailed instructions. However, the organizer will not be held responsible for any damage to the work during the installation or removal process. 9. After the exhibition, the shortlisted works will be returned to the creator in the same manner as they were received. The organizer will cover the costs of packaging, transportation, and insurance incurred during the return process. 10. By registering for the competition, participants are deemed to have agreed to and complied with the above regulations. Any matters not covered in these regulations will be revised and announced by the organizer as needed. The organizer reserves the right to interpret the event. China Ceramic Industry AssociationGuangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum February 11, 2025 Annex 1:2025 13th ‘Shiwan Cup’International Youth Ceramic Sculpture and Architectural Ceramics Art Competition Artistic Committee Artistic Committee Director: Oriol Calvo Vergés, President of International Academy of Ceramics (Spain)Qi Zhe, Dean and Deputy Secretary of the School of Arts and Crafts, GuangzhouAcademy of Fine Arts (PR China) Artistic Committee Vice Director: Wei Hua, Professor, the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (PR China)Hou Wenquan,vice president of China Ceramic Industry AssociationZeng Peng, renowned ceramic artist (PR China)Beth Ann Gerstein, Executive Director American Museum of Ceramic Art (USA)Jennifer Zwilling, Curator and Director of Artistic Programs (USA) Artistic Committee members:Xiong Kaibo, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Craft, China Academy of Art (PR China) Chen Jun, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Craft, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts (PR China) Jae-Hoon Choi, Professor, Department of Design and Craft, Ceramics, Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts (Japan) Jin Wei, Dean and Professor, School of Design, Jilin University of the Arts (PR China) Zhao Lantao, Head of the Ceramics Department and an Associate Professor, School of Fine Arts, Jingdezhen Ceramic University (PR China) Meng Fuwei, Professor, School of Design, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (PR China) Sin-ying Ho, Head of Ceramics, Associate Professor, Queens College, City University of New York (USA) Chen Guanghui, Professor, College of Fine Arts, Shanghai University (PR China) Huang Chunmao, Professor, Central Academy of Fine Arts and the head of the Ceramic Design Studio (PR China) Liang Jiahao, Professor, Taiwan University of Arts (PR China)