We are pleased to announce that from 2026, the charity State Ceramics will support the Crafts Study Centre and 318 Ceramics to deliver the Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture series in partnership with the Royal College of Art.

The annual Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture has established itself as the pre-eminent public lecture in the field of British studio ceramics. The series began in 2014 to commemorate Emmanuel Cooper, a potter, editor, writer and activist who played a significant role in promoting and advancing studio ceramics throughout his career. A partnership was formed between the Crafts Study Centre, 318 Ceramics and the University for the Creative Arts to deliver lectures with the blessing of Emmanuel’s partner David Horbury. Since the first lecture that was delivered by Professor Simon Olding, the lecture series has welcomed established names including former Rector of the Royal College of Art and writer Christopher Frayling and ceramic artists Alison Britton, Felicity Aylieff and, most recently in 2025, Julian Stair.

Emmanuel Cooper, bowl, 2005. Stoneware with volcanic lustre glaze. Crafts Study Centre Collections 2005. 23.

With the support of State Ceramics, the Emmanuel Cooper Memorial Lecture will continue to attract high profile speakers and will enable more effective dissemination of the lectures through digital channels as well as wider promotion.

Partners also intend to enhance the impact of the annual lecture, ensuring a ripple effect outward from the date of the lecture throughout the year and explore ways the lecture series might lead to further activity or publications.

All these ambitions reflect the mutual commitment of State Ceramics, the Crafts Study Centre, 318 Ceramics and the Royal College of Art to spread awareness of the vitality of studio ceramics, encourage debate, and prompt further research within the field.

FOR FULL PRESS RELEASE CLICK HERE.