The hunt is on to find out to find 10 Stoke-on-Trent ceramics workers whose skills and stories can help protect the city’s world-renowned industrial heritage for future generations.
Stoke Creates and British Ceramics Biennial are inviting local people aged 65 and over, with experience of working in the ceramics industry, to become “Living Heritage Heroes” as part of Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund-backed project will bring together former ceramics workers and 12 young people aged 16 to 25 through workshops, archive sessions, demonstrations and recorded interviews.
The aim is to capture knowledge of endangered hand skills including mould-making, tissue transfer, hand-decoration and gilding — skills that helped build Stoke-on-Trent’s global reputation but are now at risk of disappearing.
Participants’ experiences will contribute to a co-created Clay Manifesto, an exhibition and a newly commissioned documentary film, creating a permanent record of the people, processes and pride behind the Potteries.
Neil Brownsword, Professor of Ceramics and Creative Director of the project, said: “This project is our chance to put that right and will make sure they are not forgotten.”
The project is open to anyone with ceramics industry experience, from production, decoration and design to packing, gilding or studio work. No previous involvement in arts or heritage projects is needed.
A free drop-in information session takes place at BCB Studio, Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent, on Wednesday, June 10, from 4pm to 6pm.
For details, contact project manager Sarah Bonam at sarah@sarahbonam.co.uk.
