Who are we?
We are a group of potters who met at local pottery classes. As our well-loved classes are becoming scarce and threatened with closure, the resulting emotional upset has stirred us to take matters into our own hands. Our members are just too invested, emotionally and creatively, to sit back and watch their valuable access to creative learning and rejuvenating supportive social space be taken away. We are a handful of dedicated volunteers working to realise our project for roughly 50 current members and the wider community. And so, Creative Community Pottery was born.
What is Creative Community Pottery?
Creative Community Pottery is a newly formed not for profit Community Interest Company (C.I.C) seeking to benefit the local community of Chesterfield and surrounding areas through the provision of pottery classes and makers' facilities. We aim to promote and preserve the heritage of pottery in the local area and create accessible creative opportunities for all by engaging with local potters, arts organisations and communities to share the social, physical, and mental health benefits of creative pottery projects.
Why is this important?
As we all experience from time to time, the expectations of modern life and the struggles it can bring have a wearing effect on our wellbeing and mental health. Both locally and across the world we see increased loneliness and isolation, health and economic struggles. The New Economic Foundation has developed 5 Ways to Wellbeing which offer simple steps to improve mental health. Creative classes offer opportunities to maintain lifelong learning and provide vital opportunities to connect with others.
Unfortunately this is not easy for everyone to access; Time, facilities, finance and personal circumstances create barriers to wellbeing for many people. As a community pottery we will provide inclusive sessions which welcome all, and offer support to ensure access to classes is open to everyone.
There is real joy in the simple act of squishing clay between your fingers! And we want to share that with as many people as possible.
What we want to do
Creative Community Pottery plans to offer high quality inclusive workshops and learning experiences alongside reasonably priced maker's spaces in a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone, from the newly curious to the seasoned maker. We aim to offer subsidised workshops for those who otherwise may not be able to access facilities and provide therapeutic creative experiences through social prescribing.
How you can help
We have the passion, skills and the will. We also have basic equipment. Now we are asking you to help fund some of the specialist equipment we'll need (kilns, wheels and hand tools) to provide the experiences we are planning and make our dream a reality.
Supporting us with donations will help us provide a kiln and enough hand tools for all. This is a crucial first step to opening the pottery.
What’s in it for our supporters?
We have a range of incentives in mind varying from an invite to our opening party, to packages for commercial backers. Whatever you decide to donate please do so knowing that every penny is appreciated to help us achieve our goal and keep Chesterfield potting.
Please note: Rewards are only valid when we have achieved our goal of opening the community pottery. Emails will be sent with details once the pottery is open.
Visit our website here for updates and to sign up to our mailing list.