FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Bonita Day, (504) 527-6492, bonitad@earthlink.net
Jeremy Jernegan, (504) 314-2207, sisdjhj@tulane.edu

The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) announces that New Orleans, Louisiana will be the site for the 2008 conference, scheduled for March 5-8, 2008

Bus Tours will take place on Wednesday disembarking from the Hyatt Hotel and touring the city-wide ceramic art exhibitions. Lectures and panel discussions featuring dynamic speakers from the international ceramics community will be held Thursday through Saturday. Over 5000 Ceramic Artists, Educators and Ceramic art enthusiasts from all over the world are expected to attend this conference. Galleries and exhibition venues throughout New Orleans are encouraged to participate by exhibiting ceramic art during the conference dates. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Art Center, The Newcomb Art Gallery and the Kirschman Art Space of NOCCA Riverfront are just a few of the institutions that are currently planning exhibitions for the 2008 conference. Activities and events to encourage local, citywide participation and an expansion of the awareness of this incredible medium are also being planned. Local, national and international artists will also submit proposals to NCECA for a juried review and placement during the conference. For galleries and venues that would like assistance in finding excellent ceramic exhibitions, many curated exhibitions will be available for placement. Contact Bonita Day to find out more about selecting a fitting exhibition from the juried pool or for further information about NCECA.

The City's vibrant culture and arts scene are the reasons for NCECA’s return to the Crescent City. "Joie de Vivre", or the joy of life, is the theme for the New Orleans conference and resonates now more than ever. We look forward to celebrating the joys of life, creativity, and clay and welcoming NCECA members to the Crescent City. Look to the NCECA website for future updates, deadlines and contact information for the 2008 conference at www.NCECA.net, or contact the NCECA On-Site Liaisons, Bonita Day and Jeremy Jernegan.

About the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts:
The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts is a professional association of individuals and organizations whose interests, talents and careers are focused on the ceramic arts. After several years of affiliation with the Ceramics Education Council of the American Ceramic Society, NCECA became an independent organization in 1966. NCECA is a qualified 501(C)(3) not-for-profit educational organization. United by a fascination with the responsive, captivating medium of clay and its potential for creative expression, NCECA members share a conviction that the work of the hand has the power to shape lives. NCECA is dedicated to ensuring the future of an art form that has been a common thread in human culture for over 30,000 years.