City Lit ceramics diploma: two-year course

Carina Ciscato was born in Sao Paulo Brazil, in 1970. After graduating in Industrial Design in ’92 in Sao Paulo, she was introduced to Studio Pottery in Krefeld Germany where she spent 1 year working in the studio of Marietta Cremer. Upon return to Brazil she became apprentice to Lucia Ramenzoni, one of Sao Paulo’s leading potters. Following her 6 year apprenticeship and a number of courses in the US, Carina starts to show her work in local galleries and through museum shops. In 1999 Carina moved to London where she became an assistant in the studio of Julian Stair and Edmund de Waal. The move from Brazil to the UK and the change in culture and attitudes to ceramics has seen exciting new directions. Since 2003 Carina established her studio in Vanguard Court, South London where she still works to this present day. www.carinaciscato.co.uk

Chantal Condron is a curator, teacher and writer with a dedicated focus on audienceengagement and enjoyment of art. As the UK Government Art Collection’s first curator of publicengagement, she led education and public programmes at the University of Hull, WhitechapelGallery and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and delivered art talks at the Britishembassies in Paris, Vienna and Washington DC. She teaches Art History at City Lit, in additionto teaching the subject as part of City Lit’s Ceramics Diploma course. She is also an Art Historytutor for WEA London, and teaches 'A level' Art History to London secondary school students. Chantal has worked widely in the public and private arts sector for nearly 30 years including at Tate, Sotheby's, Visiting Arts, Arts and Business and University of London Library. She holds a BA in 20th century and non-western art from the University of East Anglia; and an MA in Asian art from SOAS, University of London. Author of 'Peter Hedegaard', the first monograph on the London-based Danish abstract artist who exhibited in the 1960s and ‘70s (Rocket Gallery, London, 2019), Chantal continues to contribute commissioned exhibition texts and reviews.

Brigit is an artist and educator teaching ceramic and glaze technology and a wide range of construction and surface decoration techniques. Her first training was as a linguist, and she worked as a translator and lecturer in translation before discovering ceramics. She studied on the City Lit Diploma in Ceramics before completing her MA in Ceramics and Glass and PhD at the Royal College of Art. Her own studio-work explores the creative, expressive potential of clay and ceramic materials, using hand building and mould making to explore her fascination with the discipline and alchemy of glaze technology. She believes in the fundamental necessity of art and creative practice for everyone and her wider practice focusses on working alongside artists within under-represented communities. She regularly works as an artist organising and facilitating workshops, residencies and exhibitions with community organisations, the NHS and in prison.

Robert Cooper has been teaching at City Lit since 1990, teaching ceramics on the diploma course, foundation course and portfolio summer courses. Robert has a BA in Interior Design from Kingston upon Thames College and a MA in Ceramics from the RCA, London. He has taught at secondary schools and adult education colleges in London. He has been a University Visiting Lecturer at the RCA, London, at Chelsea Public Art, Farnham, Camberwell Art of College and Hertfordshire College. He has run several workshops in Aberystwyth, Italy Milan 4, Venice Environs, Genoa 3, Umbria Villa Pia and Apulia. His personal practice includes ceramics, painting, printing and collage. In clay pieces he uses printing techniques, silkscreen and textiles. He incorporates found shards from the Thames in his collages. Robert carries out extensive research in ceramic historical and contemporary issues visiting exhibitions and museums. He has work in private collections and in public collections in Europe, America and in Britain. www.robertcooper.net

Upon leaving school, Annie gained a place on the foundation course at Suffolk College. Annie went on to study 3D Design Pottery-Ceramics at Bristol Polytechnic obtaining a BA Hons Degree. She also gained an MA in Ceramics at the Royal College of Art London In 1983, Annie set up her studio in London and began teaching in Adult education whilst making work for exhibitions. Annie acquired a wealth of experience teaching all levels and was recently asked why she liked teaching. Annie’s reply: 'It’s an enriching experience and a privilege. I meet students from all walks of life and from many different parts of the world'. Annie encourages students to create highly individual work. Annie has exhibited her work in the UK and internationally. Her work can be seen in the Victoria & Albert Museum and The Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge, amongst others. Annie was recently shortlisted for the Loewe crafts prize award the finalists’ exhibition taking place in Tokyo - Japan. Annie’s work can be seen online: Annie Turner Ceramics.