A major project bringing together different generations to celebrate and protect Stoke-on-Trent’s traditional ceramic-making skills is set to begin after receiving £131,514 of funding.
Money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will bring together ten ‘living heritage heroes’ aged 65 and over with 12 young people aged 16 to 25.
Together, they will explore what it means to be a World Craft City, while helping to shape the future of its living heritage.
As part of the Stoke 100: Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage project, participants will take part in research visits, hands-on workshops and explore archives to co-create Clay Manifesto, a touring exhibition, and the premier of a newly commissioned documentary film.
The initiative will be led by Stoke Creates – organisers of last year’s The People’s Parade – in partnership with The British Ceramics Biennial.
Susan Clarke, Executive Director of Stoke Creates, said: “The ceramics industry is facing significant challenges for many reasons. This funding allows us to act at this critical moment. Stoke-on-Trent has recently been designated a World Craft City, but designation alone is not enough. We need to safeguard the skills that built this city and ensure young people see themselves in that story.
“Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage is about celebrating the makers behind the objects and creating new pathways for the future, and our thanks go to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.”
