ClayCraft #51

Welcome Well, it’s early May as I write, but I don’t think you could say that spring is here yet. This morning, there was snow in Scotland and the north of England, and even down on the south coast, we’ve been waking up to regular frosts in the morning. When the sun’s out, it is warm, but the temperatures at night mean it’s not yet safe to put out veg seedlings, even into my polytunnel. There’s light at the end of the (poly) tunnel, though! We’re receiving more events listings (see page 6) as organisers start to fill up our summer diaries with arts weeks, exhibitions and shows. Coming soon, in terms of larger events, are the Ceramic Congress (27-31 May, ceramic.school); the Potfests (Scotland, 11-13 June; Compton Verney, 25-27…

Well, it’s early May as I write, but I don’t think you could say that spring is here yet. This morning, there was snow in Scotland and the north of England, and even down on the south coast, we’ve been waking up to regular frosts in the morning. When the sun’s out, it is warm, but the temperatures at night mean it’s not yet safe to put out veg seedlings, even into my polytunnel. There’s light at the end of the (poly) tunnel, though! We’re receiving more events listings (see page 6) as organisers start to fill up our summer diaries with arts weeks, exhibitions and shows. Coming soon, in terms of larger events, are the Ceramic Congress (27-31 May, ceramic.school); the Potfests (Scotland, 11-13 June; Compton Verney, 25-27 June; In the…

NEW KILN SHARE SITE Are you looking for somewhere to fire your work, or maybe you're a potter with spare capacity who'd like to earn some extra income. There's a new website that puts potters and kiln owners in touch with each other. "At Kiln Share, we believe in kiln sharing. Not every potter needs their own kiln. Some don't have the space, others don't have the upfront investment. "We are on a mission to make it easy for potters to find a local kiln to hire whilst helping kiln owners earn some extra income by renting out their equipment!" You can search the website using an interactive map to find kilns available near you, and if you follow the page on Facebook (@kilnshare), you'll get live updates when a…

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY! • BUCKS ART WEEKS 2021 will be taking place throughout the county from 12–27 June 2021. In the meantime, take a moment to browse through this year's participating artists and makers and start planning who you'd like to visit. www.bucksartweeks.org.uk • POTS AT THE PARSONAGE In the beautiful Old Parsonage Building on Stenner Lane, Didsbury, you will find the work of 10 talented ceramic artists, all members of the Northern Potters Association, South West Branch, exhibiting their work from 29-31 May. Members of the NPA have been showcasing their work at the Old Parsonage for many years, and it is one of their favourite venues. Visitors will find sculptural, functional, decorative and explorative ceramics spread across three galleries and all for sale. The artists who make…

Are you looking for somewhere to fire your work, or maybe you're a potter with spare capacity who'd like to earn some extra income. There's a new website that puts potters and kiln owners in touch with each other. "At Kiln Share, we believe in kiln sharing. Not every potter needs their own kiln. Some don't have the space, others don't have the upfront investment. "We are on a mission to make it easy for potters to find a local kiln to hire whilst helping kiln owners earn some extra income by renting out their equipment!" You can search the website using an interactive map to find kilns available near you, and if you follow the page on Facebook (@kilnshare), you'll get live updates when a new service has been added. www.kilnshare.com…

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED Participants are needed for research into the development of pottery skills in Great Britain during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study, led by first-year Archaeology DPhil candidate at the University of Oxford Cathy O'Brien, will examine potters' experiences of working from home with limited access to studios or materials amid the pressures of lockdown. It will also look at how the impact of learning through media, such as online video content, social media, and books, alters skill development and how that may impact more traditional educational structures. To be eligible for the study, you must be: • a potter, or have started to learn to pot (handbuilding or throwing) during the Covid-19 pandemic • living in Great Britain • open to discussing wellbeing • aged 18 or over To…