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Bid to save fading ceramic skills begins

Ethan Saundersin Stoke
BBC A group of 4 people two men and two women looking over a tea pot whilst discussing how it was made.BBC
Students are being paired up with potters with experience within the industry

A project looking to pass on ceramic skills to the next generation has launched.

The British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) based in Stoke-on-Trent have gathered 10 workers from the industry to work with 10 students in a bid to save skills and heritage.

Sarah Bonam, project manager for Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage said: "Young people of a certain age will know about the ceramics industry because their parents, grandparents and great grandparents worked in it".

"But as those people die out those conversations, that history, that link and tie with the ceramics industry is fading".

A man with grey hair and glasses, he is wearing a colourful flowered shirt and is looking at the camera smiling.
Gordon Brookes has worked as a Model maker and sculptor at many factories across Staffordshire and now wishes to pass his skills on to a younger generation.

The veterans of the industry have been dubbed by the BCB as "heritage heroes" and will work alongside the students in workshops until November.

Gordon Brookes, was originally from Liverpool and moved to Stoke-on-Trent to become modeller.

He has worked in many factories such as Wedgwood and Royal Doulton and now works out of his own studio.

"I'm at an age now where I've got a lot of years in front and behind me, and I know people want to learn this skill that I have got" he said.

He admitted his trade was one dying out in the industry due to people not having the knowledge and the skill that was once required.

"It takes about seven years to become a modeller. There's a lot to learn you don't realise how much you don't know when you start".

A young women with red hair done up in a bun. she is wearing a brown tank top and a triangle pendant necklace. she is looking at the camera smiling.
Grace Jones, 22, is currently studying ceramics as a master and is investigating it as a career for the future.

Grace Jones recently took up a masters in ceramics at the University of Staffordshire after seeing family members over a couple of generations work in the industry.

The 22-year-old has noticed an increase in interest from people her own age as smaller independent studio potters.

"I think with my generation ceramics is very trendy at the minute," she said.

"There's never been a more important time for this project to happen".

"Whilst these people have got these amazing skills people need to realise they are not going to be around forever to pass them on and now is the right time for them to pass them on".

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