ICMEA in Italy – International Meeting & Educational Tour was organized by the D’A Gallery Association, in collaboration with D’A magazine and ICMEA (International Ceramic Magazine Editors Association).  It took place from 19th – 28th June 2009.  The tour explored Italian cities with ancient ceramic traditions: from Sicily to Liguria, from Piedmont to Veneto to Emilia-Romagna.

The itinerary was divided into three sessions, and each session included an opportunity to study and compare ceramic artwork.  The tour culminated in Faenza, the world capital of ceramics.

It started out in Caltagirone with the 1st session on “Ceramics in the history of humankind”, followed by the 2nd session in Alassio on “The Mission and Value of Ceramic Art Shows Markets”, and came to a conclusion in Faenza with the 3rd session on “The Value and Function of Present-day Ceramic Art Contests”.

Several appointments were planned in addition to the seminars, such as the exhibition-contest on the contemporary craftwork of emerging artists – the D’A San Marco Castle Awards, held in the San Marco Castle in Calatabiano; the celebration of twenty years of D’A magazine and the inauguration of its new location in Catenanuova, Sicily; the bi-annual presentation of contemporary ceramic art, Ceramic. art, which was held at the Mastro Artigiano Citadel in Prarolo; and the 56th Faenza Awards – International Contest for Contemporary Ceramic Art.  Visits were also planned to workshops and ceramic museums in the cities on the program.

The participants included editor-members of ICMEA, journalists, scholars, artists, crafts people and the ones with a serious interest in ceramic art.

The organizers objective is to familiarize an internationally-based public with some of the most representative traditional and contemporary aspects of Italian ceramic work.

Their mission is to encourage mutual awareness and friendship between East and West, North and South and all over the world through the art of ceramics.

This event had the patronage of the Region of Sicily, the regional Province of Ennea, the regional Province of Messina, the Province of Ravenna, the Municipality of Faenza, the Municipality of Santo Stefano di Camastra, the Chamber of Commerce of Catania, the Chamber of Commerce of Ravenna, AICC – the Italian Association of Ceramic-producing Cities, the Agency for Consolidated Development of Calatino Sud Simeto, and Artex – the Center for Traditional and Artsitic Craftwork in Tuscany.