Selected Membership

Selected Membership recognises makers working at a high level of technical skill, originality and artistic development within contemporary ceramics. It is a peer-reviewed professional standard within the field.

Applicants are expected to be actively making work for exhibition or sale, with an established practice and to be based in the UK (or UK citizens living abroad). Selection takes place once a year through a rigorous two-stage process assessed by the CPA Council.

Benefits include:

• Recognition as a Selected Member of the Craft Potters Association
• Opportunities to exhibit and sell work through Contemporary Ceramics
• Eligibility to apply for CPA fairs, including Ceramic Art London, York Ceramics Fair and Oxford Ceramics Fair
• A profile listing on the CPA website
• £5,000,000 public and product liability insurance (UK-based members)
• Option to apply to be part of our CPA mentorship scheme
• Voting rights and the opportunity to stand for election to Council
• Access to the CPA’s wider programme and network

The CPA’s selection procedures focus upon a requirement for excellence in the work of the applicant, based on the CPA Council‘s knowledge and specialist understanding of the achievements of the very best makers. For Selected Membership the Council is looking for the work submitted to be of a consistently high professional standard.

Applicants will be informed on the status of their application in June.

Successful Stage 1 applicants are invited to bring their work for assessment at Stage 2 by the CPA Council in September.

The venue for judging alternates each year between London and Yorkshire. The venue for the year is indicated on the application form.

Please be aware before applying that feedback on unsuccessful applications for both Stage 1 and 2 is at the discretion of the CPA Council.

Please also be aware that display space at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre is very competitive. New Selected members will be placed on automatic rotation at the gallery, but permanent or long-term display is by no means guaranteed. Display at the gallery should therefore not be considered the sole reason for applying for CPA Selected Membership.

For more information about applying for Selected CPA Membership please email the CPA Membership Manager Matt Wood at membership@craftpotters.com or call 020 3137 0750.

Applications for Stage 1 open each April and close in mid-May.