An exhibition currently scheduled to run until July 2, which went on show in Stoke-on-Trent over the late May Bank Holiday, features a host of very familiar ceramic creations.
Nam’s Japanese bowls, Clover’s Russian dolls and winner, Ryan’s hand-built turtle toilet are just some of the items that have helped to ‘dress’ a very special room never previously open to the public, in what has become one of the nation’s best-loved factories.
Dubbed “The Great Exhibition at Middleport Pottery” the current exhibition features the designs, creations and workstations belonging to the contestants who threw their pots, and coiled their clay, in front of celebrity judges earlier this year. Those contestants have now contributed their ceramic creations to a temporary exhibition at Middleport Pottery which, in addition to being able to stage an eye-catching and colourful show for its visitors, is also hoping to offer educational opportunity for would-be potters to learn more about many of the ceramic techniques and processes – from throwing to hand-building, and coiling to raku.
Included in the usual heritage tour at the factory, the standard Visitor Centre entrance price of £4 for adults and £3 concessions applies – and allows visitors to enter what promises to be a very popular exhibition. There will also be a hands-on opportunity within the room, giving visitors – young and old – a chance to try their hands at coiling.
For further details, visit https://www.middleportpottery.org/news/.
And for all tourist information relating to Stoke-on-Trent and The Potteries, visit www.visitstoke.co.uk.
BBC’s The Great Pottery Throw Down television series is filmed at Middleport Pottery. The room hosting The Great Exhibition has hosted 20 contestants across two series of the show first airing in Autumn 2015.
Stoke-on-Trent is a world capital of ceramics, and will host the British Ceramics Biennial later this year from September 23 to November 5.
