The Leach Pottery needs you - Vote Now

This locally important and internationally significant cultural restoration project is committed to ensuring the Pottery's reputation is re-established as a centre for training, inspiration and exceptional ceramic work. It is dedicated to preserving the Pottery for future generations and fostering emerging talent from Cornwall with this vision already becoming a reality due to a start-up scheme and partnership with University College Falmouth. Four MA Design students will be given the opportunity to work at the Pottery alongside established craftspeople to advance their techniques, three days a week, developing a range of contemporary studio pottery.

Bernard Leach (1887-1979) was born and brought up in East Asia. He studied etching at the London School of Art before settling in Japan, where he became fascinated with pottery and studied under the great master Kenzan. He learnt traditional methods and styles of pottery, establishing a life-long friendship with renowned potter Shoji Hamada and in 1920 returned to the UK with him to found his own pottery in St. Ives. As a mark of how important Leach is considered to be to cultural Japan-UK relations, The Japanese Ambassador His Excellency Mr Yoshiji Nogami who attended the opening earlier this year and Mr Graham Fry, the UK Ambassador in Tokyo, have both agreed to be Founder Patrons of the project.

In March 2008, Lottery funding gave substantial support to the project and meant the site could be acquired, preserved and opened to visitors. It regenerated the old pottery, not only protecting the legacy of Bernard Leach but also providing a high level of skills training in a supportive atmosphere to emerging young designers from University College Falmouth by providing them with a new production pottery studio, offering them a space in which to begin their careers - a launch pad for their fledgling new businesses, bridging the gap between the world of study and academia and developing professional practice.

A new exhibition room has been created on site to celebrate the life, work, influences and legacy of Bernard Leach. There is also a shop and a contemporary gallery, which provide regular shows throughout the year featuring some of the best work by contemporary potters, including a showcase featuring Cornish artists.

The Leach Pottery has now reached the semi-finals of the National Lottery Awards 2008, battling it out against Lottery-funded projects from across the UK. For the Pottery to develop and offer the support and opportunities outlined above it needs YOUR VOTE - VOTE NOW.

Vote online at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
or phone 0845 386 4439

Closing Date 4^th July 2008

All BT landline calls are charged at the BT lo-call landline rate.  Call charges from mobile phones and other landline providers may vary.  Voting will be independently verified by Electoral Reform Services.

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