The second edition of the Biennale of Contemporary Keramics 2026 (BCK 2026), titled “Where the Day Starts,” will conclude in Rhodes with a two-day series of events on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026. The public is invited to participate in activities that connect contemporary ceramics with the history, educational approach, and local culture.
The program for the Closing Days is as follows:
Friday, October 30, 2026
- 6:00–7:00 p.m.: Screening of the series of 8 mini-documentaries “#craftingcyprus” at the French Residence in the Medieval City of Rhodes. This production was written and directed by Filep Motwary, in collaboration with the Cyprus Handicrafts Agency, the Press and Information Office, and the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus. (Reservations are required via the ArtVolt app).
Saturday, October 31, 2026
- 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Doors open at 10:15 a.m.): Closing Workshop titled “Logos, Knowledge & Culture” at the University of the Aegean (“Kleovoulos” Building, “Cornelius Castoriadis” Hall). The conference brings together academics, art historians, curators, and artists in a dialogue, highlighting ceramics as a living vehicle of cultural memory. At the same time, it will be livestreamed on YouTube via the University of the Aegean’s MediaPedagogy channel (youtube.com/@MediaPedagogy_UAegean).
- 1:00–3:00 p.m. (Doors open at 12:45 p.m.): Curated tour of the BCK 2026 Main Exhibition with curators Stamatia Dimitrakopoulou, Loukia Thomopoulou, and Anissa Touati. Meeting point: de Milly Armory. (Reservations required via the ArtVolt app).
- 5:00–7:00 p.m. (Arrival at 4:45 p.m.): Guided tour of the Medieval City of Rhodes, organized in collaboration with the Association of Certified Tour Guides of the Dodecanese. Meeting point: Rhodes Archaeological Museum Square. (Reservations are required via the ArtVolt app).
Program of Talks for the “Word, Knowledge & Culture” Conference:
- 10:30 a.m.: “Where Place Becomes Culture: From the Colossus of Rhodes to Contemporary Ceramics” – Alivizos (Loizos) Sofos (Dean of the School of Humanities, University of the Aegean).
- 10:40: “From Marcel Duchamp to Ai Weiwei: Shaping, Reframing, and Destroying Ceramics in Contemporary Art” – Yannis Koukoulis (Assistant Professor of Visual Culture and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Art, Department of Art History and Aesthetics, University of the Aegean).
- 11:10: “Milestones in the History of Rhodian Ceramics and Their Educational Approach” – Kyriaki Fardi (Ph.D. in Education, Postdoctoral Researcher in History Didactics, and member of the Special Teaching Staff at the Department of Early Childhood Education, University of the Aegean).
- 11:40: “The Use of Art in History Education: Pedagogical Approaches to Controversial Historical Events” – Zeta Papandreou (Ph.D. in History Education, Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Technical University of Athens).
- 12:10: Presentation of the children’s book “The Traveling Pottery,” created jointly by preschool children from Rhodes and Ankara. Speaking about the book are: Marianna Misiou (Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood Education, University of the Aegean), Özlem Kanat (Assistant Professor, Ankara University), Stamatia Gianna (Ph.D. in Children’s Literature, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of the Aegean, Preschool Teacher at the 1st Preschool of Ialysos) and Sevda Göker (Preschool Teacher, Emre Koleji Preschool).
Exhibition Venue Hours (Saturday, October 31, 2026):
BCK 2026 Main Exhibition:
- Rhodes Archaeological Museum: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Cleobulus Square (Palace of the Grand Master): 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Rhodes Cosmetic Collection (Panagia tou Kastrou): 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- De Milly Armory: 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Parallel Exhibition “Hic Rhodus” / “Behold Rhodes”:
- French Residence (Medieval City of Rhodes), curated by Apostolos Artinos: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
All events are free of charge. Reservations are required via the ArtVolt app for the mini-documentary screenings and the two guided tours. For more information: bck@bigbluedot.art.
