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TODAY: British Ceramics Biennial invites community to Tactile Meadow Celebration
The British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) is having a special community event to celebrate the laying of the Tactile wildflower meadow.
Happening today, Friday 22 March 2024, 2-4pm, on the College Road campus of Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE. The meadow is between the Flaxman and Beacon buildings.
The event is a chance to see over 2,000 unique, handmade tiles that will form the growing foundations of a new public wildflower meadow. The tiles, made by visitors to British Ceramics Biennial 2023, including 1,000 local schoolchildren, have been laid over the course of this week week. Finishing touches will be made with help from the participants at this celebration event.
The Tactile Meadow Celebration is an opportunity to hear from some of the artists and project co-ordinators involved. See the tiles before they begin their transformation into a vibrant wildflower meadow. Refreshments will be available as well.
Joanne Mills, Studio and Community Programme Manager for the British Ceramics Biennial, said: "This next stage of the Tactile project is an exciting and pivotal moment where we hand over the tiles to the forces of nature. Exposed to the elements, we will be able to watch and see how the carefully crafted substrate tiles transform into a natural habitat within Stoke-on-Trent, increasing biodiversity within an area of Staffordshire University’s campus. To see the tiles laid out together is a joy to behold; a tapestry of colours formed by thousands of hands, that will evolve over the days and weeks ahead."
The decision to explore the possibilities of reusing waste materials in the project came out of BCB’s partnership with High Speed 2 (HS2). Three tonnes of spoil clay were donated from the construction of the railway station in Old Oak Common, London, as part of the HS2 Arts and Culture programme. Thinking about the lifespan and impact of the work produced in the space beyond the 2023 biennial period brought the team to consider clay’s potential as a growing medium rather than a material destined for ceramic object-making. This served as a platform for the artists to delve into contemporary issues of environmentalism and to act on their reflections on embedding sustainability.
Tactile is part of the Clay & Communities programme, delivered through a partnership between British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) and Partners in Creative Learning (PiCL). Clay & Communities is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is managed by the City of Stoke-on-Trent Council. The £135,000 of funding for the Clay & Communities programme will include four areas of activity that will bring creative professional development and hand-making with clay to the people of Stoke-on-Trent between 2023 – 2025.
More information about the Tactile project can be found at: www.britishceramicsbiennial.com
Keele University announced as Headline Sponsor for Lymelight Festival 2024
Newcastle-under-Lyme BID is thrilled to announce that Keele University has stepped forward as the headline sponsor for the annual Lymelight Festival, celebrating the vibrant local music scene.
The festival, a popular fixture in the local music communities calendar, is set to take place over the Bank Holiday weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May, when more than 40 up and coming local artists are set to perform across three outdoor stages, offering an exciting array of free entertainment.
Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership.
He said: "Keele University is delighted to be the headline sponsor of Lymelight Festival 2024. Lymelight is an exciting and memorable annual event for the local community, showcasing some of the very best musical talent of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the surrounding areas, and we are thrilled to be supporting it."
Charlotte Pearce, BID Manager, echoed the sentiment, expressing delight in collaborating with Keele University once again.
Charlotte said:"It's fantastic to welcome Keele University onboard this year. Sponsorship of headline events like Lymelight Festival means that we able to build on the success of the previous year by making the festival bigger. Keele’s commitment to the local community is evident, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming them into the town with the opening of Keele in Town late in 2024."
In addition to Keele University's generous sponsorship, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID is excited to offer additional sponsorship opportunities for businesses eager to support the weekend-long festival. With over 40 local bands set to perform, this presents an excellent chance for businesses to engage with the community and showcase their support for local talent.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to get involved, please contact Newcastle under Lyme BID at hello@nulbid.co.uk.
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