British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) is an arts organisation and charity making change through clay.

BCB delivers an engaging year-round programme responding to local community needs related to health, education and creativity that feeds into the UK’s largest festival of contemporary ceramics.

The first British Ceramics Biennial was delivered in 2009. Now heading towards its ninth edition in autumn 2025, the Biennial celebrates the ceramic heritage of Stoke-on-Trent and the contemporary practice that has been inspired by the city.

Every two years, the Biennial fosters new partnerships, inspires novel ideas and promotes thought leadership during six weeks of exhibitions, tours, education sessions, hands-on experimentation and a symposium.

Ever since that first Biennial in 2009, BCB has run a community ceramics studio from the Spode Works site in Stoke town. Initially, the BCB Studio was located deep in the heart of the site with limited visibility but in May 2024, BCB proudly opened the doors to its brand-new, high-street-facing, public access ceramics studio.

Still based on the historic Spode Works site, the new studio faces onto Church Street in Stoke town beside the original Spode factory gates. As well as the benefits individuals gain via arts participation, BCB is passionate about promoting the role of arts and cultural activities to strengthen the identity and prosperity of Stoke-on-Trent.

The BCB Studio provides the community with clay facilities in an inclusive and welcoming space allowing people to create, meet others, develop ideas, explore ceramics processes and refine making skills.

The studio supports a group of artist members, hosts public clay activities and acts as a base for running BCB’s year-round programmes taking place in the studio and throughout Stoke-on-Trent. These programmes support people living with dementia, those in drug and alcohol addiction recovery, those experiencing mental ill health and engages nursery, school and college students across the city. The BCB Studio therefore enables thousands of local people to experience the creative, social, educational and wellbeing benefits of working with clay.

BCB has entered the High Street Impact and Business in the Community categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.