Farnham Public Arts Trust – Pottery Talk – 8th October
FARNHAM PUBLIC ART TRUST ANNUAL OPEN MEETING
Saturday 8th October 2011, 10.30 for 11 am
at the Garden Gallery, Museum of Farnham
Speakers: Sue Farrow, Guy Hains, Ashley Howard, and Julia Quigley
on
“Saving the Farnham Pottery”
The topic for this year’s Farnham Public Art Trust Open Meeting on Saturday 8th October will be the Farnham Pottery in Wrecclesham, with an illustrated talk given by the pottery’s new owners, Guy and Elaine Hains. Guy and Elaine are Farnham people with a strong interest in architecture and the craft of pottery, and they have recently acquired the Farnham Pottery from its previous owners, the Farnham Building Preservation Trust.
The talk will start with a short history of the pottery, which was founded in 1873 and remains as an almost unique survival of a Victorian country pottery. This introduction will be given by Sue Farrow who wears both Farnham Public Art Trust and Farnham Trust hats. Then Guy Hains will take over to discuss their exciting plans for the future, which include the setting up of a new ceramic centre of excellence, with opportunities to learn the traditional skills.
Guy will be assisted by Ashley Howard, ceramicist and lecturer at the University for the Creative Arts, and Julia Quigley the well known tutor of West Street Potters, a teaching group who have been tenants at the pottery for some twelve years.
This will be a fascinating occasion, providing an opportunity to learn more about how the Farnham Pottery was saved in 1998 when the business was failing and the buildings threatened with demolition. The Farnham Trust gradually restored the buildings and brought the pottery back to life, and the pottery is now facing an exciting new future which will preserve the buildings and use them for the purpose for which they were designed.
The meeting will start at 11 am, with coffee and biscuits from 10.30 am, and all are welcome. Entrance is free.
Sue Farrow
Chairman, Farnham Public Art Trust
