In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Confindustria Ceramica and EdiCer SpA said they have decided to postpone Cersaie, the world’s largest international exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. The show was originally slated for September 28-October 2 in Bologna, Italy. Cersaie 2020 is being moved to new dates and will adopt a safer, more engaging and more international exhibition format, the show said.
The new dates for Cersaie 2020 will be November 9-13, and the adapted format will include lectures and programming focused on ceramic tile as a hygienic solution for the future of architecture and design. The show will be held in the Bologna Exhibition Centre and will maintain the events and appointments that have made it a global benchmark for the world of ceramic tile, bathroom furnishings, design and architecture, according to the show.
“The fact that we will have to live with COVID-19 for some time makes it essential to adopt European protocols to keep exhibitors and visitors safe during their stay in Bologna,” said Antonio Bruzzone, general manager of BolognaFiere. “We’re pursuing this important goal at a national and European level while working alongside the institutions and trade associations to support companies during the economic recovery and boost the competitiveness of our industrial supply chains.”
The show said it’s also making sure that the new Hall 37 will be ready following the shutdown of all construction work in Italy. The space available in this new hall will enable the various product categories to be reorganized while moving the bathroom furnishings sector to the heart of the exhibition centre. The entire Hall 18 will be transformed into the Contract Hall and will host leading companies from new product categories.
“For this year’s Cersaie, we chose the title ‘The healthiness of ceramics for rethinking home design and architecture,'” said Confindustria Ceramica chairman, Giovanni Savorani. “We want it to be the first international event in the sector that draws lessons from the emergency and rethinks the world of architecture and home design in a way that brings together health and beauty. At the same time, Italy will need to make a concerted effort to convey the image of safety needed to kick-start our industry.”
The title will be the starting point for a dedicated cultural, training and information program. “Given the exceptional circumstances, there will also be significant changes in the way the exhibition and the conference program are organized,” said Emilio Mussini, chairman of Confindustria Ceramica’s promotional activities and Trade Fairs Commission. “These aspects will be presented to the media at a digital press conference to be held on Thursday 21 May and, most importantly, will be discussed over the following weeks with all Italian and foreign exhibitors in order to find the best and most effective solution possible.”
Cersaie is publishing content on its YouTube channel including an ongoing series of talks with design and architecture firms around the world and keynotes from past editions of the fair, such as Renzo Piano, Kazuyo Sejima and more. Follow Cersaie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and more video content related to Cersaie 2020.