23.01.06
Leach Pottery restoration project
Bernard Leach's famous pottery in St Ives will be saved as
a result of recent investment decisions. Penwith District
Council, the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust and St Ives Town
Council are very pleased to announce that the Leach Pottery
Restoration Project in St Ives has investment of £450,767
from the European Regional Development Fund and £100,000
from the Rural Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Partnership
(RCP), who deliver Rural Renaissance funding on behalf of
the South West Regional Development Agency.
With these two substantial investments, added to awards
from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£610,000), Arts Council
England South West (£98,685), Cornwall County Council
(£75,000 and support from Cornwall Enterprise) and from
Penwith District Council's own capital programme budget (£75,000),
the Council and Trust are now able to 'go live' with the project.
The project still needs to raise in the region of £100,000
from supporters throughout the UK and overseas and so we are
today also launching a public appeal. For information on how
to support the project, email: donations@leachproject.co.uk.
The Council has now acquired the Leach Pottery site, buildings
and property owned by the pottery company and two private
owners, in order to safeguard this site of international significance
and revive the pottery's reputation as a centre for training
and an inspirational focus for studio pottery.
The project aims to restore and preserve the Leach Pottery
for future generations, unlock its potential for generating
significant levels of long-term sustainable employment and
creative activity, as well as foster emerging talent, open
up the site and its history to visitors and create a showcase
gallery for contemporary studio pottery. There will be opportunities
throughout the year for people to find out more.
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership,
said: "Bernard Leach is part of the long and rich
history of art in Cornwall, particularly St Ives. This project
will revitalise a building that is known across the world
and turn it into a working attraction, complementing those
already established which include the Tate St Ives and the
Barbara Hepworth Museum. It will open the pottery up to visitors
and as importantly, provide education for those who are keen
to follow in the footsteps of this great artist."
Cllr Bert Biscoe, chairman of RCP, said: "The
RCP is delighted to be supporting this project. It is an excellent,
well prepared and presented initiative, which provides a strong
boost to the contribution made by the Cornish creative sector,
to our regenerating economy. It will also further strengthen
St Ives as a global creative centre, particularly through
the bond with Japan, first established by Bernard Leach."
Stephen Bohane, head of operations in Cornwall and the Isles
of Scilly for the South West of England Regional Development
Agency, said: "This is a site of international significance
and the RDA is pleased to be playing a role in funding its
restoration. The site is now held by the public for future
generations and will build upon Cornwall's reputation for
excellence in the creative industries. It will provide opportunities
to attract visitors as well as helping to develop home-grown
talent."
Lady Carol Holland, Chair of Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust,
said: "The Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust is delighted
that the major investors have shown such faith in our ability
to deliver this wonderful project. Now is the chance for local
people and other supporters to become part of this exciting
adventure by supporting our appeal."
For further information please contact Tamsin Daniel on 01736
336818 or email: tamsin.daniel@penwith.gov.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly has invested in the Leach Pottery restoration
project through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Editor's notes:
The Leach Pottery is a site of international significance,
being the home and workplace of Bernard Leach and for fifty
years, the epicentre of the craft pottery movement. After
85 years, the pottery and cottage was put up for sale and
in danger of being lost, both as a place were pots are made
and where people can experience something of the spirit of
the Leach Pottery in its heyday.
The Leach Pottery site was put on the open market at the
beginning of 2003, presenting the community with potentially
a one-off opportunity to bring this historic site into the
public domain and to maximise its regenerative potential for
St. Ives and Cornwall. The project would also complete the
cultural jigsaw in terms of the cultural heritage of St. Ives,
as well as diversifying the cultural offer and encouraging
more off-peak visiting. The project has the potential to become
an inspirational focus for the revival of studio pottery within
the creative industries in Cornwall.
The project will:
| 1. |
restore the existing Grade II listed buildings, including
the original kiln which is the first example of this type
of Oriental climbing kiln in the West; |
| 2. |
create a new museum exhibition space for the interpretation
of the site, the life and legacy of Bernard Leach and
the story of studio pottery up to the present day, through
a programme of changing exhibitions, including use of
film, oral history and archival material; |
| 3. |
create a showcase contemporary studio pottery gallery
to support and reinvigorate Cornwall's strong pottery
cluster, and to present this work within an international
context; |
| 4. |
create a new pottery training facility accommodating
four incubation units and four business start-up units,
supported through a programme of professional development
under the guidance of a lead potter and University College
Falmouth, fostering emerging talent and new SMEs; |
| 5. |
create a programme of pottery-based courses and events
open to the general public and visitors; |
| 6. |
improve public access and visitor facilities throughout
the site |
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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