From Waste to Resource Conference – Research Overview
Originally recorded 2 October 2025
Keynote Speaker: Claire Baily
Claire is an artist, researcher and educator whose work explores the intersections of art, sustainability and material innovation. Her research focuses on materiality in creative practice. She is investigating what a regenerative making practice might look like in the context of the climate emergency. For the past decade, Claire has worked as a Sculpture Tutor at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and is an active member of the Centre of Art & Ecology. She was part of Artangel’s Making Time programme for 2025. This programme fosters collaboration between artists, scientists, and researchers while supporting artists to embed environmental consciousness in their practice.
Claire’s presentation shares the findings of her research to date, addressing the question:
What are the opportunities and challenges for creative and industrial use of clay extracted as a result of UK and HS2 construction activity, and what are the potential implications of using construction spoil clay to reduce the environmental impact of virgin clay extraction and related processes?
Claire outlines the project’s origins and significance, emphasising the importance of circular practices in managing natural resources and transforming our understanding of waste. The presentation will set the scene for the subsequent speakers who have developed a variety of innovative approaches to sustainable material use.
Next in the conference schedule: Exploring our Material Future, Caroline Till
Start from the beginning: Welcome, Clare Wood
Support
From Waste to Resource: Circular Economies for Construction Spoil Clay is part of a 19-month research initiative led by British Ceramics Biennial and undertaken by BCB Clay Researcher Claire Baily. The research was delivered in partnership with Louise Trodden (HS2 Arts & Culture Team).
Thank you to all the speakers, contributors, volunteers and attendees who generously supported and shared their knowledge, expertise and insights. The conference was recorded and edited by Copperbeach.
