Material Response: shaping sustainable practices
Schedule
Fri Jun 05 2026 at 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Sunken Studio | Leeds, EN
About this Event
The 'Material Response: shaping sustainable practices from clay and waste' Symposium will bring together speakers from policy, industry and creative practice for a day of talks relating to the circular economy, sustainable art and design practice, and the benefits of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Led by the Material Cognition Research group at the University of Leeds in collaboration with local ceramics studio Sunken Studio - the day will be fuelled by the underlying belief that the most interesting work happens when we follow our curiosity, and work across disciplines. From art to science, design to engineering, craft to industry - these cross-disciplinary collaborations are where new ideas are made. Furthermore these entangled approaches to working are becoming increasingly important as we face the realities of climate breakdown and resource scarcity.
The Symposium concludes a 6 week co-research programme hosted at Sunken Studio. This program was backed by the Cultural Institute IGNITE fund at the University of Leeds. It saw a group of students from the school of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies (FAHACS) embedded with Sunken Studio members and other collaborators in 6 investigative sessions looking at how recycled clay derived from construction and demolition waste could be used to craft more sustainable ways of making - both in ceramics as well as unfired applications of clay drawing on traditional earthen building techniques.
The day will include talks from professionals within the West Yorkshire Waste to Resources network, as well as guest speakers from across the country, and across different fields, with a shared objective to find less extractive and more sustainable ways of designing, crafting and manufacturing. Speakers will discuss their own practice as well as their own perspectives on sustainability and the benefits of cross-disciplinary working. We will also be hosting an exhibition of research including work undertaken across the 6 week co-research activities with University of Leeds Students, Sunken Studio members and other collaborators. There will be ample opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and find new opportunities for collaboration and extension of existing research.
Speakers will be announced soon!
Location: Sunken Studio Leeds - Unit 3 Butterley Street, Leeds, LS10 1AW
Date: Friday 5th June
Time: 13.00 - 18.00
Booking Link: LINK
Booking Queries: [email protected]
Where is it happening?
Sunken Studio, Butterley Street, Leeds, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
EUR 0.00
