La Borne Ceramic Center Launches Residency for Young Artists

The Centre céramique contemporaine La Borne inaugurated its residency program this year, offering young artists access to centuries-old ceramic craftsmanship in the village of La Borne, Cher. The residency is rooted in a four-century tradition of pottery and a post-WWII modern art revival. Sophie Auger, director of the Onde art center in Vélizy-Villacoublay, curates the program. For the first edition, artist Marie Preston was selected by a professional committee. The residency lasts three non-consecutive months, with two sessions per year. Production budgets and resulting works are shared among participants. An exhibition concludes the residency, but the program allows for non-visible outcomes. A future model will provide infrastructure for established artists seeking technical support. Auger notes a growing interest among young artists in forgotten crafts and ethnographic references, citing the appeal of clay's elasticity and the magic of revitalizing traditional skills.