The project EU TRACE NET − European Traditional Ceramic Network for sustainable and inclusive growth − also includes the City Municipality of Ljubljana.

The project EU TRACE NET connects 21 European cities, which have a strong tradition in ceramics and pottery. These 21 cities represent 5 European countries: Italy, Poland, France, Croatia and Slovenia. The City of Ljubljana is being represented in the project by the Association of Ceramists and Potters of Slovenia.

The partnership is being led by the Italian organization Focus Europe, which represents around 120 European municipalities. It ensures the understanding and implementation of European policies and strategies. With its help, the EU TRACE Network connects citizens, local authorities, experts and civil society representatives in discussions about European strategies (Lisbon Strategy, Europe 2000) and about the best practices for the development of cultural possibilities and the economic potential of the ceramics field for different local interest groups as far as increasing production, employability and employment, sustainable tourism and tourist flows, social cohesion, revitalisation, encouraging active ageing, and cultural cooperation in a broader sense are concerned.

The first out of four conferences planned during this project took place in October in Civita Castellana, a renowned city of ceramics. The main theme of the conference was Ceramics, tradition and European cultural networking. The conference introduced the partners of the project with an emphasis on the history of traditional ceramics in each of the cities, followed by a presentation of the scope of the project and a presentation of the Focus Europe organization. Besides this, they also talked about protecting, encouraging and developing the ceramics traditions as well as the possibilities for new projects and new connections.

At the conference, the City of Ljubljana presented the history of ceramics and the current status of this field in Slovenia. The participants also introduced the Association of Ceramists and Potters of Slovenia as well as some of their successful projects.