Cultural Icons at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery explores the history of the Staffordshire flat-back in a whole new way, resulting in artworks that comment, highlight and question aspects of mainstream culture, society and politics today. Join us for a day of talks and tours with the artists and Curators Ben Miller and Tessa Peters, delving into the fascinating creative responses created through this collaborative project.

You can attend one or all of the talks and whilst booking is recommended to ensure your place, drop ins are welcome.

11.30 – 12.15 in the PMAG Auditorium

Contemporary Cultural Icons
Meet renowned ceramic artists Christie Brown and Stephen Dixon and find out more about the political and cultural themes behind the Cultural Icons they’ve made for the exhibition. The artists’ conversation is chaired by Stafford-based artist Phoebe Cummings.

1.15 – 2.00 Temporary Exhibition Gallery (First floor) 

Cultural Icons: Curators’ tour
The exhibition’s curator, Tessa Peters, offers some additional insights into the flat-backs made by the contemporary artists and Ben Miller, The Potteries Museum’s Assistant Curator of Ceramics points out some fascinating features of their Victorian precedents.

2.15 – 3.00 in the PMAG Auditorium

Making Cultural Icons
Works in the exhibition include artists’ designs for modern flatbacks produced by communities of makers in Stoke-on-Trent. In an open discussion those involved reflect on their involvement in the project. Discussants include workshop makers Kevin Lee and Kerry Aubrey; Sarah Fraser, temporary BCB Studio Manager; Anna Francis, Stoke-based artist with a socially engaged practice, and curator Tessa Peters. The discussion is chaired by Clare Twomey, an internationally recognised artist with a longstanding interest in making art in social contexts.

Sunday 22nd September

In addition to the above talks we will be joined on Sunday 22nd September by Stoke’s own Poet Laurette, Stephen Seabridge, who will be leading a poetry tour of the site:

Object Narratives with Stephen Seabridge
11am-12pm, 2pm-3pm – The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery

Please book to ensure your place, drop-ins welcome depending on capacity. Maximum of 10 participants.