Austell Ceramic – Our ambition is to turn the centre of St Austell and its clay country into a giant cultural site. We want to create a sense of place based on our heritage and the unbounded potential of china clay, creating a cultural argument for visiting and living in St Austell Bay and its clay country. St Austell will become a hub where people can learn ceramic art skills and be inspired.
In 2016 the Whitegold Project was set up by a small group of ceramicists and dedicated locals who live amongst the china clay pits of St Austell. Proud of an amazing heritage, and wanting to see a better future for the area, this group of artists, business people and others wanted to make something different from the clay – a sustainable, creative and resilient place where people wanted to live, work and play. Now the Whitegold Project is part of Austell Ceramic, a major programme of creative projects working collaboratively across all of the Austell Project pillars.
In our first steps we have created opportunities for local people to work with clay, and to tell their own stories about clay. We want young people, all people, to feel pride in St Austell and to build their future here. The second step has been to invite established and emerging artists from Cornwall, from Stoke on Trent, and from all over the world to St Austell to make work and share their skills, leaving behind a legacy of publicly accessible work for all.
In the next phase of the Austell Project, we will focus on transforming outdoor spaces, strengthening local community engagement with ceramic activities and facilitating the building of creative hubs in collaboration with existing educational and creative communities.
Click the images below to explore our journey so far….
