Pottery Preston Launching Campaign For First Open - Access Studio

Pottery Preston Launching Campaign For First Open - Access Studio

Jan, 24 2019


~Learning about an individual’s background  can give you a more rounded perspective of the person. It can also help you  appreciate how much they have done in the community which makes them excellent leaders in spearheading a specific campaign.

Louise Smith is such a person. Following her graduation in Ceramics Metal and Print, Louise worked for years in Community Arts in Preston, including projects with PRESCAP (Preston Community Arts Partnership) and as an Arts Development Assistant for Wyre Borough Council.

This gave her the skills and confidence to establish ‘Process Studios’ which was launched in 2012. It was a community workshop and artist studio in Edinburgh which raised  over £100K through a community crowd-funding campaign, Creative Scotland, a number of trusts and a social investment loan

The following five years saw her as managing director of Process Studios. This enrolled over 3000 people in a number of courses and the studios supported over 200 professional makers in starting or growing their business.

This excellent CV has given her the gravitas to take on a new project. Pottery Preston have been doing ok for a while  but members believe an open - access studio is definitely required to help support new and existing potters. 

This is something Louise feels strongly about,  so a Kickstarter campaign has been launched which hopes to raise £10,000 in just 30 days.

Opening in May 2019 the new studio will offer beginners courses for adults and young people taught by professional ceramic artists. A program for local schools will also be provided along with community membership and an exhibition program. The studio will provide a professional membership and help to train people in the art of Ceramics.

Your kind, willing donations will go along way in creating an excellent studio for local potters. In addition, your donations could win you a number of rewards. These include workshop and course vouchers at early-bird rates, private workshops and tickets to the launch evening. Please visit kickstarter.com to find all the details you will need to make your donations online.

Help Louise Smith and friends in this positive and worthwhile course :-

  • Pottery Preston launches campaign to raise £10,000 for first open-access studio
  • May 2019

^Alex Ashworth.