Belong Newcastle residents’ pottery creations to be exhibited nationally

Residents living at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme are paying homage to its ceramicist roots by moulding and sculpting their very own clay masterpieces to be showcased at the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB), later this year.

Leading the pottery classes, Joanne Mills, resident artist at BCB, appeared live via video-link to deliver the interactive sessions, providing an in-depth history of the art before working with participants and their support workers in making their own plates.

As well as exhibiting alongside local and international artists at the UK’s largest ceramics festival, the new creations will have pride of place in the Belong Heritage Gallery, the building that once housed Samuel Bell’s pottery — the first and only one in the town. Now incorporated within the dementia care village on Lower Street, the heritage gallery features a range of themed spaces which bring to life the history of the building — including an arts and crafts room with a special potter’s wheel and Samuel Bell’s Tea Room, which features displays of original 18th century tea pots made on the site, on loan from the Brampton Museum.

Daniel Turner, heritage coordinator for the Belong Heritage Gallery, explains the thinking behind the initiative: “We wanted to engage residents in the potteries heritage that their home and North Staffordshire is famous for and what better way to do so than make their own plates to share with the wider community.

“Working with clay also provides a sensory-rich experience and can have a therapeutic effect on people living with dementia; as well as building their ceramic skills, exploring the tactility of the material and transforming it into a personal artefact brings a sense of purpose and achievement for the creator.”

The themes for the sessions have been driven by residents’ memories including hobbies, careers and their loved ones. Once the plates were modelled, participants enjoyed drawing, writing and collaging their designs onto paper before printing onto the plates which are to be fired in kilns at Spode, the birthplace of underglaze blue transfer printing — a signature feature of Staffordshire pottery — and the formulation of bone china.

A selection of the plates will be chosen for inclusion at BCB in Stoke-on-Trent, for which residents at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme will be treated to a virtual tour of the festival when it commences in September. The remaining creations are set to be housed in the Belong Heritage Gallery and will be enjoyed by residents, their families, and the wider community, once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Daniel Turner continues: “Belong residents have loved working with Joanne, sharing the ideas behind their work and getting a little bit messy with the clay. The opportunity to put their art on display, both here in the village and at the BCB festival has filled them with pride and they’re excited to share their work with the world.”
Pictured: Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme Support Worker, Marie O’Brien and Resident, Janet Frampton.