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[August 2005]
Stoke-on-Trent to Host Ceramic Festival
Stoke-on-Trent, 'The Potteries', is to provide a unique backdrop for the premier UK Ceramics Festival which will take place there from 16-18 September 2005. This newly conceived event will run at a number of city venues including ceramic companies' visitor centres, museums and factory shops.
Among other things, the Ceramics Festival will give visitors the chance to invest in the best contemporary studio pottery (sourced from all over the UK) - at the Potters Market being staged at the historical Gladstone Pottery Museum - where hands-on opportunities will be available for children.
The redeveloped Trentham Gardens will host a retail showcase of designers and manufacturers with stalls exhibiting and selling giftware, ceramic homeware and crafts.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley provides the location to Wander & Wonder with wine, with the opportunity to have a guided tour with one of the museum's knowledgeable staff.
Other events taking place during the festival include specialist talks (taking place throughout the weekend), the chance for visitors to get their own ceramic pieces valued at the Spode factory in the centre of Stoke, the firing of the boiler of the last steam powered potters mill in Britain, a workshop on the photographing of ceramics, guided factory tours, potters wheel demonstrations, an exhibition of Masters Ceramics students' work and a display jointly organised by The Royal Society and the Ceramic Industry Forum.
For the real enthusiast, there will be the chance to take up a place at the Connoisseur Ceramics Masterclass, a residential weekend featuring activities running right from first thing on the Friday (16 Sept) through until 4pm on the Sunday (18 Sept).
For all further information, including literature giving full details about the Ceramics Festival and, separately, the Connoisseur Ceramics Masterclass, e-mail Stoke-on-Trent's Ceramics Development Officer, Andrew Watts, at: andrew.watts@stoke.gov.uk
ENDS