— OPEN CALL —
Thematic Presentations for 2026 IAC Congress

The 2026 IAC Congress now welcomes proposals for thematic presentations from the general public (IAC members AND non-members) on the Congress theme: “Inheritance and Innovation”.

• CONTEXT

In 2026, the IAC Congress will be held for the first time in Jingdezhen. This choice is highly symbolic, as Jingdezhen embodies the theme of ‘Inheritance and Innovation’ by combining ancestral heritage and the desire for innovation, like a constantly renewed momentum linking the past and the future.

Developing a theme for an IAC Congress must incorporate both local and global aspects. The theme chosen by the host is as broad as one could wish and could include many chapters. As the conferences are limited by the time available at the Congress, four chapters have been defined and will be developed during the Congress:

I. Historical perspectives
II. Global dialogue, local practices
III. Sustainable development, ecological responsibility
IV. Future: Craft, Technology, Science

*More details about the theme’s four chapters can be found here.

• SUB-THEMES STRUCTURE

To make it easier to understand which topics potential lecturers can contribute to and which topics should be highlighted, the Programme Committee has proposed the following structure for the sub-themes:

I. Historical Perspectives

1. Keynote: “Heritage and Innovation”, an anthropological approach
2. Ethnic Minority Heritage Preservation
3. Heritage Preservation and Modern Transmission

III. Sustainable Development and Ecological Responsibility

1. Innovative Applications of Traditional Materials in Contemporary Architectural Practice
2. Sustainable Practices in Design
3. Youth Ecosystem & Education Innovation
   • • Global Trends in Ceramic Education
     • Industry-Academia-Research Integration Practices
     • Youth Creation and Entrepreneurship Incubation

II. Global Dialogue and Local Practice

1. 1. East-West Dialogue in Architectural Ceramics
   2. East-West Dialogue in Ceramic Design
   3. International Residencies

IV. The Future: Craft, Technology, Science

1. 1. The Values of Handmade
   2. On Artificial Intelligence
      • Technology-Driven Ceramic Experimentation
      • Interdisciplinary Applications
      • CNC Technology’s Innovation in Traditional Craftmanship
   3. Breaking Boundaries
      • Industry Transformation and International Branding
      • New Forms of Ceramic Communication

• SELECTION

The Programme Committee will select a maximum of three presentations for each of the four sub-themes, for a total of up to twelve.

Selected speakers will receive a generous compensation package for their participation in the Congress programme, including lecture remuneration and a discount on the Congress registration fee.

Conditions:

• Presentations cannot exceed 20 minutes.
• A five-minute Q&A session will be held at the end of each lecture (for a total of 25 minutes per lecture, including Q&A).
• Presentations may be given in any of the Congress’ official languages: English, French or Chinese. The selected lecturer must inform the Congress organisers ahead of time.
• All presentations must be given in person.

• DEADLINE & SUBMISSION

Proposals are due by 15 OCTOBER 2025.
(Selected speakers will be notified by end of November)

Scholars, artists, writers, and thinkers of all kinds are invited to submit a proposal, which must include the following information:

• Full Name, Country of Residence, Professional title
• Title of presentation
• To which sub-theme (1 to 4) the proposed presentation relates
• Text presenting the subject (in English, French or Chinese, max 1500 characters)
• Short abstract summary for communication purposes (max 500 characters)
• 1-4 images to accompany the subject (if applicable – it is preferable, but not mandatory and depends on the topic)

A jury from the Programme Committee will select the 12 presentations. In its selection, the jury will consider gender equity, country of residence, topic, and of course, relevance to the chosen sub-theme.

All proposals must be submitted via the online form and in English (OR with an attached English translation). The Programme Committee will not accept submissions via any other method.

> ONLINE FORM <

If you have any questions on the above procedure, please contact Sophie at the IAC Secretariat: office@aic-iac.org