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[March 2003]
Ceramic Futures - Staffordshire Schools Project
18 schools and over 450 Key Stage 3 (13 and 14 year-old) students across Staffordshire, England will participate in a new £10,000 education initiative launched by the Ceramic Industry Forum (CIF). The Ceramic Futures School Project will forge links between the ceramic industry and education. The project has been created by the CIF in partnership with Staffordshire University, The Staffordshire Partnership, Staffordshire Quality Learning Services and the British ceramic industry.Each school is benefitting from funding to provide their students with what is described as an "inspirational visit" and "inspirational materials and equipment". By calling on the creative expertise within the UK ceramic industry, each school is being visited by a professional designer to inspire students by sharing their own work, with guidance being offered throughout the creative process from initial sketches to presentation of final pieces. Julian Teed, Product Management Director at Portmeirion Potteries, who is the visiting designer at the Friary School in Lichfield, said: "Portmeirion are delighted to be involved with this project. We think it is extremely positive that the CIF are helping to create such excitement about our industry to Staffordshire's young generation".
The outcome of the project will be an exhibition at the Staffordshire University degree show in June 2003. There will also be a travelling exhibition, taking in venues in the South and East of the county.
Shan Jones from The Staffordshire Partnership said of the project: "The ceramic futures project is creating genuine relationships between schools and industry, giving young people the chance to work alongside industrial designers. It is encouraging young people to see how dynamic and forward thinking the modern ceramic industry can be".
Sue Evans, Chief Executive of CIF, said: "We are passionate about supporting ceramic design education in the UK. We believe that this project will be vitally important in building on the wealth of creative skills found in Britain and will ensure that there is a future generation of design talent for the ceramics industry".
Further information is available from the Project Coordinator, Jodie Sanders, at: jodie.sanders@staffs.ac.uk
ENDS