Ceramic Art Association of NSW - Show 2003

	Annual NSW Ceramic Art Show REPORT for 2003

		Tara School Auditorium where the Show was held

Introduction:
After months of planning by the CAA-NSW Committee, the 22nd Annual Ceramic Art Show was held over the weekend of 11 & 12 October, 2003. Following many years of being held in July at the Whitlam Centre, Liverpool, this year the Show was held in a different venue (the Tara Anglican Girls’ School in North Parramatta, NSW), and at a different time of year, so it brought a considerable number of challenges and new opportunities for this year’s Committee, who themselves were all new to their roles. The change of venue was principally made for financial reasons as the previous venue’s hire cost, insurance and running costs had risen each year.

The Venue:
The new venue had a slightly smaller area to display the Show competition entries but it had other advantages such as a separate area for demonstrations, and an area where food and refreshments could be prepared and served, rather than having to buy from commercial outlets.

Feedback from the public and from the companies who had Display Booths or Tables at the Show, on the whole, seemed to indicate the new venue and time of year were very acceptable to most of them.

Finance:
The financial results of the 2003 Show will be published as part of the audited Annual Financial report for the year 2003-2004 and will be available by the 2004 AGM. It made a small profit that helped with 'start-up' costs of the 2004 Show.

The aim each year is to have the Show be at least "cost neutral" so that it does not drain the Association’s financial resources and detract from other services it could provide to Members. However in recent years that has not been possible as costs have steadily increased. The Committee has tried hard to minimise costs this year, whilst still making it attractive for companies to display their wares and for individuals to enter the competition. As the "loss" trend was reversed this year, it will be practical to hold a Show in 2004. This is great - as it is an excellent way to promote Hobby Ceramics, by 'show-casing' companies and studios, by encouraging students and professionals at all levels of expertise to learn new things and achieve higher standards in the competition, and by allowing members of the general public to see the results and thus, perhaps, cause some to take up the hobby for themselves.

Competition Entries:
This year there were 665 individual pieces entered for judging in the Ceramic Art Competition and these came mainly via Ceramic Studios, of which there were 27 involved this year. There were also entries from the girls at Tara School and by some individuals. Click here to see pictures of the Best in Show and Best in Category prize winners.

There are 315 possible Categories which can be entered under the Australian Rules – but this year, as is often the case, only 160 of these actually had entries, and some of these categories were ‘overflowing’ with entries.
The judges commented that whilst the standards were high they would love to see more of the possible categories used. They are willing to accept invitations to visit Studios to explain to students more about what is required in each category and to give general hints on what to do and not-to-do. (See the Judges’ Report for more detail.)

Each year the Ceramic Art Show has a "theme category" (Category N3) and this year’s was "Mediterranean Magic". Only 15 pieces were entered but it was some interesting work – and was grouped for display in a separate area of the Hall - click here for some photos.

Business Displays:
An important part of the Show each year were the displays and sales areas established by various companies and studios associated with Hobby Ceramics. Those who hire the single and double booths are usually Members of the CAA but need not be. There were 15 booths this year covering a good range of companies and products, and there was the CAA-NSW Booth, where membership details etc were available and where the "Best in Category" winners were on display. A new opportunity this year was for companies to hire just a Display Table in the entry foyer of the Tara School Auditorium building. Of the seven available, four were taken and they created interest as people first came in and before they descended the stairs to the Main Display Hall. (Click here for full list of Display booths and tables)

Public Attendance:
As usual, the public were invited on Saturday & Sunday to see the competition entries and visit the display booths and tables. They were welcomed in the entry foyer by volunteers Dyral Moss and Matthew Carr (owners of Carmos Creative Supplies) or by some of their students, when they needed a break. They collected the entry fees with a smile and words of welcome and made sure everyone had a timetable of the free demonstrations and a lucky door prize number.

Over the two days, approximately 740 people paid to enter the Show (366 on Saturday and 374 on Sunday) and the Association also gained four new Members and 3 new Associate Members. There were others who expressed interest and collected information to read.

Free Demonstrations:
For the first time, this year’s show included some free technique and product demonstrations in a lecture theatre area separate to the main display hall. (Click here to view full list) These all seemed to prove popular, with an average attendance of about 15 people at each.

Refreshments:
As noted above, this year’s Show used self-catering to save cost. The Tara School erected a marquee outside the entrance to the Display Hall and this provided a nice spot for the people who came on Saturday & Sunday to sit at small tables and relax whilst enjoying the refreshments available. We dubbed the space "Café Ceramica" and all those who attended the Show seemed to like the arrangement. There was a sausage sizzle going most of the time and there were sandwiches, cake, scones, slice, crisps, chocolate bars, coffee, tea, and soft-drinks on sale while the Show was open.

Raffle:
Thanks goes to those companies who generously donated raffle prizes to supplement those purchased by the CAA. Without these attractive items, the raffle would not attract the number of ticket sales it does and thus would not be a help to raise some finance for the Show.

Volunteer Help:
A Show like ours depends on a huge amount of help from the Committee Members, their families and friends, and from many Association Members who operate studios, and from some of their students. We dare not mention names (we might miss some!) but the Committee is very grateful for all those who helped in the following ways over the 4 day period:-

On Thursday: those who helped set up the display hall and erect signs around the school grounds; and those who helped receive competition items in the afternoon and helped load the tables ready for judging.
On Friday: those who helped the judges as stewards and tally clerks and did the paperwork.
On Saturday & Sunday: those who helped run the show and make the public welcome - including all those involved with preparing and selling food and refreshments, those who made the PA announcements, and those who sold raffle tickets.
On all four days: those who made sure the helpers were fed !!!

Perhaps some of the people reading this report would like to begin considering offering to help in the 2004 Show when the call goes out?

Conclusion:
If you attended the 2003 Show, the Committee hopes you enjoyed your time there and they hope it helps a little towards making your hobby ceramics more enjoyable in the coming months.

The Committee also wants to publicly thank the staff at Tara School, especially Peta, Anne & Jason for their help and cooperation throughout the show and in the set-up/take-down periods.

The Committee also want to publically thank all the companies who sponsored something in the Show - be it via publicity, donation of a raffle prize, or presentaton of a special award or trophy for the ceramic entries. A full list of these companies was displayed at the Show and is repeated here.

Entrance to Tara School

Inside the Show Display Hall

Some of the 665 entries

One of the Display Booths

Admission Table in Main Foyer

Marquee for Refreshments

Refreshments on sale

The Sausage & Frankfurter Sizzle

page last modified:- 15 October 2004