On Friday, November 19, an important meeting was held online between some of the Cities of Ceramics in Turkey to continue working towards the creation of a new Association in this nation, which is so important and prestigious for the sector of artistic ceramics.
Those present at the meeting included Mayors, managers, officials and consultants from the Cities of Kütahya, Avanos, Çanakkale and Bilecik, who were engaged in detailed discussions for an immediate launch of the AtrCC with the adhesion of four Cities, in addition to which it is believed that at least another five may join soon.
The General Secretary and Project Director of AEuCC, Giuseppe Olmeti, commended the operation, expressing the enthusiasm with which AEuCC regards this launch, and the hope that AtrCC can join AEuCC, which would represent the first case in Europe of an EGTC comprising a component from outside the group of EU nations. Olmeti also pointed out to the Turkish friends just how positive the different experiences implemented in the various national ceramics networks can be in promoting friendship, cooperation, national ceramics identities and the development of concrete projects.
An in-depth discussion between AEuCC and Turkish Cities developed in an extremely satisfactory manner, leading to an increased awareness about the importance of the creation of a national association, for which City of Kütahya has accepted the task of managing the Secretariat for the preparation of the statute and internal regulations, including rules relating to the Presidency, for which it was decided that it will change once every year or two years.
A working group, consisting of Giuseppe Olmeti and Oriol Calvo, for the AeuCC, and Mehmet Zenci and Pinar Adanali, for the Turkish side, is already working on the definition of technical aspects.
The Mayor of Kütahya Alim Isik, along with the Mayor of Avanos Alper Ibas, the Mayor of Bilecik Semih Sahin and the Director of Cultural and Social affairs of Çanakkale Ozlem Eryigit, greeted the AEuCC and promised a visit as soon as possible in one of the European Cities of Ceramics to sanction the pact of friendship and collaboration that, in fact, has already begun.
Shown below, the words of Massimo Isola, President of AiCC- Italian Association Cities of Ceramics and Mayor of the Faenza Municipality:
“I am very happy to see the Turkish cities of ceramics working towards the creation of a national association in this field.
For us, talking about ceramics means talking about our civilization and our communities. Ceramic production has an economic dimension, of course, but it also absorbs an idea of the world, the passage of time, styles and habits. But, to be incisive, ceramic production needs to be up to date and to reflect contemporary time and its changes.
The national associations of Ceramics, together with AEuCC, are working precisely to enhance the future of ceramics between tradition and innovation: the more we are, the better we can tackle this topic.”