LEACH POTTERY

摘要

It would be difficult to find a more emotionally and historically charged capital project than the restoration of the Leach Pottery. After looking at the real prospect of its physical collapse some six years ago, the specially convened Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust, under the inspired leadership of Lady Carol Holland, has led a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes not only of the historic property and buildings, but also in the wider, contemporary opportunities presented by the site. The vision for the site - crucially - was both reflective and forward-looking. This combination of forces has saved the project from the 'merely' iconic genuflection to the past as represented by the all-consuming figure of Bernard Leach. There are new Leach narratives to tell in time here, too. The Trust formulated a convincing set of objectives and these in turn struck chords with funders: the local authorities were convinced by the arguments of cultural tourism; the Heritage Lottery Fund could see the unrivalled historic purposes of the 1920s pottery at the heart of the site; Arts Council England could support the development of new ceramic production and University College Falmouth understood the potential for teaching and learning. Finally the European Regional Development Fund supported the cause of economic development.