A major intergenerational project celebrating and contributing to the safeguarding of Stoke-on-Trent’s endangered industrial ceramic hand skills
About Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage
Led by Stoke Creates in partnership with British Ceramics Biennial, the project will bring together ten ‘Living Heritage Heroes’ aged 65+ with twelve young people aged 16–25. Together, they will explore what it means to be a World Craft City today and help shape the future of Stoke-on-Trent’s living heritage.
Through research visits, hands-on workshops and archive exploration, participants will document endangered skills such as mould-making, tissue transfer, hand-casting and gilding. The project will result in a co-created Clay Manifesto, a touring exhibition and the premiere of a newly commissioned documentary film.
The project runs from April 2026 to February 2027.
Project leadership
Creative direction is led by internationally recognised ceramic artist Neil Brownsword, with heritage research led by Martin Brown, who brings extensive knowledge of Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural history and archives to support the documentation of endangered ceramic hand skills.
Monica Cru-Hall is the Creative Youth Engagement Worker for the project. She will recruit, support and work with a diverse group of young people from Stoke-on-Trent.
Partners in Creative Learning CIC (PiCL) will lead the school’s engagement programme to ensure that young people are meaningfully involved in shaping the Clay Manifesto.
The project is managed by Sarah Bonam, Arts and Heritage Consultant, bringing extensive experience in delivering creative heritage programmes.
Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
About Stoke Creates
Stoke Creates is the Cultural Compact for Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area. They work with partners across the city and the wider region to make arts and culture happen. They drive collaborations that shape the city’s cultural, social, and economic landscape, ensuring that power and the positive impacts of creativity are available to everyone in our communities.
Funded by:
