Although I've never blogged about it that much, both K and I take a great interest in contemporary ceramics, and we've built up a fair old collection over the years. Many of our most significant and prized purchases have been made at the annual Earth & Fire fair, which is held every June at
Rufford Abbey Country Park in North Nottinghamshire, not far from the village in which I grew up.
For many years, the park has boasted
a terrific Ceramics Centre, which has attracted an international reputation and ensured that Earth & Fire has become THE leading ceramics event of the year, with a large proportion of this country's leading practitioners -
Chris Keenan,
Antonia Salmon,
Ashraf Hanna,
Tim Andrews,
Eddie & Margaret Curtis,
Emma Johnstone and many more - manning their stalls in person, and making themselves generally available to gushing groupies such as ourselves. The centre also stages regular exhibitions throughout the year, as well as hosting workshops, providing artists' residencies, offering pieces for sale, and generally serving as a national centre of excellence.
Sadly, all of the above is now under threat, as Nottinghamshire County Council, the centre's prime benefactor, has begun to roll out a series of "
changes to the operating model" - or "cuts", to use the more common parlance - at short notice and without any prior public consultation. Staff are being laid off, ceramics are no longer for sale at the centre, support for the exhibitions is being withdrawn, all workshop programs are being closed, and the whole scope of this nationally acclaimed centre is being narrowed right down. In short, a scarce and valuable national resource, which attracts thousands of visitors to an otherwise undervalued part of the county, is in danger of virtual extinction.
Thankfully, the centre's many supporters aren't taking the situation lying down.
An online petition has already attracted over 1000 signatures,
a campaign blog has been set up to report on the developing situation,
a supportive article has appeared in The Times, a "Save Rufford Ceramics Centre" group
has been set up on Facebook, and pressure is building on the County Council to justify their position.
If you're the sort of person who takes an interest in these things, then please
visit the blog,
sign the petition, and generally spread the word. This has been a Troubled Diva Public Service Announcement. Thank you for your time.
Labels: art, ceramics, nottinghamshire, politics
