Liceo Torricelli – Ballardini

The Liceo Torricelli – Ballardini is one of Faenza’s high schools, and it includes different courses. One of them is the Liceo Artistico, i.e. the High School for Arts. In Faenza, the Liceo Artistico stems from a historic technical high school, called “Istituto Statale d’Arte per la Ceramica G. Ballardini”.

The Ballardini school has always been a national and even international centre of attraction for those interested in studying the art of ceramics, and it played a fundamental role in Faenza’s international recognition as a “the city of ceramics”.

School’s history

• In 1916 the ceramologist Gaetano Ballardini founded a school for ceramists in Faenza.
• In 1923, 1925 and 1927 some works by the school’s students were presented at the Monza Biennial of Decorative Arts.
• In 1927 the Municipality of Faenza instituted the annual ceramic merit award named after Gaetano Ballardini.
• In 1928 the school became the seat of the inter-university courses in the history and technique of ceramics.
• In 1930 the school again participated in the Decorative Arts Exhibition in Monza and in 1936 it was at the Milan Triennale.
• In 1938, the school became the “Regio Istituto D’Arte della Ceramica” (Royal Institute of Ceramic Art) and the scientific-technological laboratory, the workshop for the production of glazes and colours, the didactic workshop for decoration and the restoration laboratory were built.
• In the same year, the first International Ceramics Competition was inaugurated.
• After World War II, the name was changed to “Istituto Statale d’Arte per la Ceramica G. Ballardini”.
• In 2010 the “Istituto Statale d’Arte per la Ceramica G. Ballardini” became the “Liceo Artistico Ballardini”.
• In 2013, the “Liceo Artistico Ballardini” merged with Liceo Torricelli, creating the “Liceo Torricelli – Ballardini”.