We are proud to be supporting a very special event that is taking place at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

On Friday 30th October The Potteries will be taking over the museum in conjunction with the British Ceramics Biennial. The event know as #FridayLate is free and you can drop in from 6.30pm until 10pm.

There will be lots on offer including:
“Explore the making and meaning of ceramics, drink at Wedgwood’s pop-up tearoom and move to some Northern Soul‬ as we celebrate with British manufacturers, artists and designers that continue to fire-up Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramic heritage.”

Neil Brownsword: Re-Apprenticed
Raphael, Room 48a
19.00-21.30

Re-Apprenticed is a performative installation by artist Neil Brownsword in collaboration with a group of former ceramic industry employees. Through his observation of numerous endangered industrial craft practices, Brownsword attempts to illuminate the hidden sequence of actions that accrue to meet the demands of each skill base. Those including the subtle nuances of material, haptic knowledge, pacing and timing. Come and see the practitioners at work as they master their crafts in this live-factory setting.

The Re-Apprenticed installation is part of the British Ceramics Biennial 2015. With thanks to Buckinghamshire New University and Arts Council England. Clay provided by Valentine Clays Ltd.

 

Flower making demonstration and workshop
Studio, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

There is a long history of bone china flower making in Stoke-on-Trent. Clusters of the glazed flowers made up as ‘florals’ were once extremely popular, with the industry employing several hundred flower makers across the city. The industry has now all but disappeared. The British Ceramics Biennial has been collaborating with local flower makers repurposing skills incorporating flowers within artworks and installations. For this evening, get some clay under your fingernails, work with flower maker Maureen Marrow to find out how to make bone china flowers yourself.

 

World of Wedgwood Pop-up tearoom
Lunchroom

The V&A Lunchroom will be transformed into a World of Wedgwood Tea Room. With a tea sommelier on hand, taste Wedgwood tea blends and learn the ritual of tea drinking and the history of Josiah Wedgwood who, in the 18th century, recognised the appetite for tea ware. World of Wedgwood celebrates British industrial and design heritage and offers the widest selection of Wedgwood products in the world.  World of Wedgwood is also home to the V&A Wedgwood Collection, presented to the V&A after a successful fundraising appeal, led by the Art Fund with major support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, allowing it to remain in Barlaston on long-term loan.

All events are available on a first come, first served basis.

All visitors to Friday Late should use the main entrance on Cromwell Road. If you are a V&A Member, corporate member or hold a ticket to an exhibition please use the Exhibition Road entrance.

Exhibition Tickets are available from the Exhibition Ticket Desks. Tickets are subject to availability, and no booking fee applies. Please note tills close at 20.30.

Please note, if the Museum reaches capacity we will allow access on a one-in, one-out basis.

For further information click here