Lockdown Pottery is a creative ceramics collective set up during the 2020 Covid19 pandemic to learn about life through making with clay.
Since March 2020 we have worked with schools in South Somerset to produce ceramic tableware as part of Fairland Collective’s project ‘ A long night’ that will take place at Od Arts Festival 2021. So far we have worked with 150 pupils from six schools with support from South Somerset District Council and Perrott Hill School. Lockdown Pottery packs initially went to pupils of key workers that were still at school and has been extended to include other schools groups (when restrictions were eased) and go out to family’s when schools were unable to open in January 2021.
In response to this project a teacher at Fairmead School, which caters for young people with Learning Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder, commented “It was great to see the pupils engage with something so stimulating during the lockdown. Pupils surprised me with their level of independence during the process.”
Community Clay Project – Lockdown Pottery
OSR Projects was successful in applying for a Local Connections fund award to support Lockdown Pottery, a long-term project inviting people in our community to learn new skills and enjoy making together. The fund enabled us to set up a basic community pottery studio in our existing building and provide and on-line introduction to ceramics. We hosted this project throughout March 2021. We had enough equipment for 30 families or ‘bubbles’ to join in, which were all snapped up in 24 hours! Who knew that so much talent was right on our doorstep. It’s been a wonderful way to meet new friends and we hope our pottery community will continue.
The Local Connections Fund is a new £4 million fund to help charities and community groups working to reduce loneliness by building community connections across England. Through this programme and previous partnerships, DCMS and The National Lottery Community Fund are working together to help prevent loneliness, strengthen our communities, and improve people’s lives.