Where Will Nceca Be In 2024?

The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) is a non-profit organization based in the United States that serves ceramic artists and educators. Founded in 1966 after several years of affiliation with the Ceramics Education Council of the American Ceramic Society (https://nceca.net/about-us-1), NCECA’s purpose is to promote and improve the ceramic arts through education, community building, research, and creative inspiration.

NCECA hosts an annual conference that brings together thousands of ceramic artists, educators, students, and professionals. The multi-day event features demonstrations, lectures, exhibitions, and networking opportunities all related to the ceramic arts field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Council_on_Education_for_the_Ceramic_Arts). Over 50 years since its founding, NCECA has become an influential organization that supports ceramic arts education and connects ceramic arts practitioners globally.

Past Conferences

NCECA has held an annual conference since 1966 when the first conference was hosted in Washington D.C. The conferences aim to provide education, community, and networking opportunities for ceramics artists and educators (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Council_on_Education_for_the_Ceramic_Arts). Past conference locations have included cities across the United States such as Portland, Milwaukee, Tampa, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis. Attendance at the annual conference has grown steadily over the decades, with over 6,000 attendees at recent conferences. Some highlights of past conferences include the 50th anniversary conference in Kansas City in 2016 which drew record crowds, and the return to Cincinnati in 2023 for the first time in over 30 years (https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/02/17/after-thirty-years-national-ceramics-conference-r.html). The conferences feature exhibitions, presentations, demonstrations, and networking events that connect and inspire the ceramics community.

Upcoming Conferences

NCECA has announced future conference locations and dates through 2025:

The 2023 conference will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio from March 15-18, 2023 with the theme “Current” according to the 2023 Conference Information page. This conference is already open for registration.

In 2024, NCECA will travel to Richmond, Virginia from March 18-23, 2024 for the conference themed “Coalescence” as noted on the NCECA homepage.

And the 2025 conference is slated for Portland, Oregon though exact dates are still to be determined according to the NCECA site.

Conference Location Selection Process

NCECA has a detailed process for selecting the location of its annual conference each year. According to the NCECA State Conference Planning Manual (https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/State-Conference-Planning-Manual-2.pdf), the site selection timeline begins 2-3 years prior to each conference.

The site selection involves a bidding process where potential host cities submit proposals highlighting their venue options, local arts community, transportation logistics, and other relevant details. The NCECA exhibitions director and local arts/culture leaders review the bids through a peer review process. They look for locations that can accommodate the large scale of the conference in terms of session rooms, exhibition spaces, and attendee lodging. Affordability, accessibility, and geographic diversity are also considerations.

The conference location is typically selected 2 years in advance. Once chosen, the host city’s local NCECA chapter forms a conference planning committee to handle logistics. Members scout venues, organize programming, coordinate with presenters/exhibitors, promote the event, and more. The planning process aims to showcase the best of the region’s arts community on a national stage.

Potential 2024 Locations

NCECA has historically rotated its conference location across different regions of the United States. Some of the potential locations for the 2024 conference based on past rotations and logistics include:

Phoenix, Arizona – The Southwest US is a region NCECA has visited before, with conferences held in places like Portland and New Orleans, but Phoenix has not yet hosted the event. Phoenix offers great facilities, weather, and accessibility.

Minneapolis, Minnesota – The Midwest region is also in the regular rotation for NCECA. Minneapolis has great arts and culture amenities, as well as facilities to host a large conference.

Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta is a major city in the Southeastern US that could attract good attendance numbers. NCECA has not been held in Atlanta before.

Seattle, Washington – Seattle is a popular West Coast destination and home to a thriving arts scene. However, NCECA was last held in Seattle in 2015, so it may be too soon to return.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – This East Coast city previously hosted NCECA in 2012 and offers a centralized location with great arts infrastructure.

Conference Attendance Trends

According to the NCECA website, the attendance at NCECA’s annual conference has been steadily rising for years. The 2022 conference in Sacramento had over 5,000 attendees. This was over 1,600 more than the 2021 Virtual Conference which had around 3,500 registrants due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, NCECA conferences were experiencing strong growth. The 2019 conference in Minneapolis had 4,924 attendees and the 2018 conference in Pittsburgh had 4,916. This represents a 29% increase from the 2015 conference in Providence which had 3,808 attendees.

The primary growth seems to be coming from independent ceramic artists, students, and educators. According to a 2010 study published on the NCECA website, over 75% of attendees identified as independent ceramic artists or students. Only around 13% were from industry or retail. The organization’s outreach and programming appear targeted to nurture the next generation of ceramic arts professionals.

While overall conference attendance has grown significantly, the 2022 conference did see a dip from the 2019 pre-pandemic numbers. It remains to be seen if this will be a temporary blip or indicative of a broader trend. The 2024 conference in Richmond will be an important indicator of NCECA’s direction in the years ahead.

Emerging Technologies

Conferences in 2024 will likely incorporate exciting new technologies that enhance the attendee experience and streamline event operations. Some emerging tech trends to watch include augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and 5G. Augmented reality can provide interactive experiences and virtual tours, while virtual reality may enable remote attendees to immerse themselves in a digital version of the venue. AI chatbots can act as virtual assistants to provide personalized recommendations and schedule planning. Facial recognition can enable frictionless check-in and security. 5G networks will allow for lightning-fast live streams and downloads. NCECA 2024 may showcase tech like smart stages with integrated LED walls for dynamic presentations. The exhibit floor could have AR-enhanced booths or live polling stations. These innovations show the promise technology has for transforming conferences and trade shows.

Sustainability

NCECA has been increasingly focused on making its conferences and events environmentally sustainable. The NCECA – Green Task Force was formed in 2007 to provide guidance and leadership in this area. Some of their efforts include reducing paper usage, providing recycling and composting, sourcing local food, offsetting carbon emissions, and promoting green transportation options.

The 2023 conference program guide outlines many of NCECA’s green initiatives such as pursuing Zero Waste certification, eliminating plastic badge holders, and offsetting carbon emissions from conference travel. Additionally, NCECA offers an Environmental Sustainability Fellowship to fund research and initiatives that advance green practices in ceramics.

Based on these efforts, it’s likely that the 2024 conference will continue to expand NCECA’s commitment to sustainability through creative programs, material usage, and offsetting environmental impacts. This aligns with NCECA’s mission of promoting awareness around sustainable ceramic practices.

The Post-Pandemic Future

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on large in-person events like NCECA’s annual conference. While virtual events helped fill the void during lockdowns, many are eager to return to in-person events. However, the pandemic may lead to longer-term changes for conferences and conventions going forward.

Surveys of event professionals reveal uncertainty about the future. According to one survey by Encore, only 19% expect future events to be mostly virtual, but 64% believe hybrid events will be more common (https://www.encore-anzpac.com/post-covid-event-survey-insights). Hybrid events combine virtual and in-person participation. This allows some attendees to join remotely while others meet face-to-face.

Many researchers argue that academic conferences should embrace more virtual participation. One study noted that virtual events increase accessibility, reduce carbon emissions from travel, and facilitate recordings and knowledge sharing (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13246-022-01138-y). However, others believe the networking and collaborative aspects require in-person events.

Whatever the future brings, NCECA will need to adapt to attendees’ changing expectations in a post-COVID world. More virtual and hybrid offerings may be necessary to attract participants worried about travel and safety. But creative solutions can maintain the special social experience that makes these ceramic arts conferences worthwhile.

The 2024 Conference

The 2024 NCECA conference in Richmond, Virginia is shaping up to be an exciting event. Based on past conferences and emerging trends, we can make some predictions about what to expect.

Attendance at NCECA conferences has been steadily increasing over the past decade, with over 6,500 attendees at the 2022 conference in Sacramento (2024 Conference Information and Registration). This upward trend is likely to continue, with potentially 7,000 or more attendees expected in Richmond in 2024.

Emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality may start playing a bigger role. We could see more immersive VR experiences as part of the conference programming. Sustainability initiatives will also likely expand, with a goal of making the conference carbon-neutral.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 conference to be canceled entirely, and the 2021 conference to go virtual. By 2024, it’s expected that in-person conferences will be back in full swing. NCECA 2024 may have more of a celebratory atmosphere as the ceramic arts community comes together again after the isolation of the pandemic.

With Richmond’s vibrant arts scene and heritage as the former capital of the Confederacy, the 2024 conference is sure to address relevant social and cultural issues. Attendees can look forward to thought-provoking panels, discussions, and artistic programming.

If early registration and tour signups are any indicator, NCECA 2024 in Richmond is already garnering significant excitement and interest. The conference is shaping up to be one of NCECA’s biggest and most engaging yet.