This is a post I thought I would never have to write and now do so with considerable regret and concern.
You may have heard - either from Bonnie herself or from other sources - that Dr Bonnie Kemske's contract as Editor of Ceramic Review was recently terminated by the Craft Potters Association. No new editor has been appointed. There are no adverts so far posted seeking a new editor. There appear to be no plans, as yet, to appoint a new editor, and, as things stand at the moment, there is nothing on the CPA website concerning these upheavals at Ceramic Review. Moreover, most CPA members know nothing of these changes. The only member of the CPA council that I have spoken to 'didn't know enough about it' to discuss the issue with me.
** Latest update ** CPA have now informed their members that the Jack Doherty will be the first guest editor but there is still no news on the long term plan for an editor as far as I understand.
In addition to this, we know that promotion of Ceramic Review abroad has been terminated and the focus of the magazine is now to be national only.
A small group of us have written the following open letter to the CPA calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting so that we can put our concerns to them directly. You may have many more questions you would like to ask.
Please take a look at the letter here below, which we plan to send to the CPA council with a list of signatories, and, if you agree and would like to add your name, please send an email to
weareceramicreview@gmail.com with a YES as your subject line and your name as the message - with any comments you may wish to make, by midnight Friday 20th September. Please also email or share this post via twitter or facebook to anyone you think might also like to add their name. 116 people have so far added their name via email and many more via facebook. Don't forget to send the email or let me know via fb by Friday 20th!
Many thanks from The C Word
Dear Craft Potters Association Board Members,
We write to express our deep disappointment at the recent removal
of Dr Bonnie Kemske as editor of Ceramic
Review.
We feel strongly that, under her editorship, the magazine
has taken on a new lease of life. Over the last three years we have welcomed
the publication’s broader perspective, particularly enjoying the international
dimension, and the inclusion of a wide variety of ceramic production. The range
of articles about industry, studio pottery, installation work, sculpture, and
public and community art projects, have provided an excellent overview of the
breadth of production and the scale of ambition that defines our field.
It is this mix, combined with the international coverage,
that gives Ceramic Review its
considerable, and currently unparalleled, national and international status.
Our shared concern is that the broad-based appeal of Ceramic Review, its inclusive,
democratic, and international content, and tone of open debate, is set to
become increasingly conservative and narrow. This would be a great shame. At
best, these are very challenging times for magazines. Narrowing the Ceramic Review remit will, almost
certainly, reduce its readership and threaten its survival.
Many of us are CPA members, Ceramic Review subscribers and contributors as well as readers. We
are all stakeholders in the Ceramic
Review enterprise. The welfare and future success of this magazine affects
us all. We urge you to retain a progressive and inclusive
agenda for Ceramic Review, under an independent editorship.
We would welcome an opportunity to
discuss these issues further and call for you to hold an extraordinary general
meeting for that purpose.
Signed:
