The Leach Pottery at Higher Stennack. Photo: Matthew Tyas/Leach Pottery
St Ives Town Council is set to give a £1,000 grant to the Leach Pottery as its celebrates its centenary year with a major programme of events.
In an accompanying letter to the pottery, the council will suggest the money is targeted a cultural exchange, enabling students from St Ives to visit and stay with students in Mashiko, Japan.
Japanese potter Shoji Hamada was co-founder of the pottery with Bernard Leach and helped to establish Mashiko as a world class centre of pottery.
As well as exhibitions, the centenary programme includes a Design a Pot for Sharing schools challenge, nationwide Raku parties, an ourdoor clay school in St Ives, a Japanese tea ceremony day, and a pop-up shop on the harbour front in St Ives.
The total cost of the Leach Centenary Project will be £489,285, and grants awarded so far include £290,000 from Arts Council England, and £30,000 from Cornwall Council.
Cllr Ron Tulley suggested mentioning that the money support the student cultural exchange because it was the town council which signed the friendship agreement with Mashiko. This was seconded by mayor Tony Harris.
Cllr Rex Henry added that St Ives is well known in Japan. “The Leach Pottery is an enormous asset to the town.”
