PRESS RELEASE
20/10/16

Leach Pottery and the Sensory Trust present

The Walking Impressions Exhibition

A display of work from their collaborative arts and wellbeing project

for people living with dementia in the St Ives area

Wednesday 9^th to Sunday 20^th November

From 9^th to 20^th November, The Leach Pottery and Sensory Trust present an exhibition of work from their collaborative ‘Walking Impressions' arts and wellbeing project for people living with dementia in the St Ives area. Walking Impressions is part of the Sensory Trust's ‘Creative Spaces in the Community' project which invites dementia sufferers and their carers to get outdoors and engage with nature, enhancing their physical and mental wellbeing and reducing isolation and loneliness.

Over a six-week period from August to October, 18 local participants and their carers took part in two studio sessions and four walks around St Uny Church in Lelant, the King George Memorial Walk in Hayle, the village of St Erth and Marazion Marshes, collecting items such as leaves, shells, ferns and flowers, making clay impressions of stone carvings and ironwork, gathering marsh reeds for use as mark making tools, and collecting clay from the banks of the River Hayle.

In the studio, lead project artist Jackie Clark worked with the group to explore connections between landscape, nature and memory, using collected materials to incise, impress and decorate a series of ceramic tiles which form the exhibition's final artwork - a collaborative mural that traces the group's shared sensory and geographical journey.

Also on show is a collection of 313 handmade ceramic pebbles created by the group, which represents the number of people living with dementia in the vicinity of the walks, along with a specially commissioned documentary film of the Walking Impressions project by Richard Liddicott.

If you are living with dementia or care for a person who is, and are interested in taking part in future projects please contact Andrea Ellis, Project Officer at Sensory Trust, creativespaces@sensorytrust.org.uk, 07534 992588,www.sensorytrust.org.ukor Jackie Clark, Learning and Participation Officer at the Leach Pottery, 01736 799703, The Leach Pottery, Higher Stennack, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2HE,www.leachpottery.com.

This project has been made possible by Feast, Arts Council England and Cornwall Council. The programme is managed by Creative Kernow.

-End-

 300 dpi print ready images:
 Walking Impressions Exhibition image

Leach Pottery

The Leach Pottery in St Ives founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada is among the most respected and influential potteries in the world. The Leach philosophy is concerned with direct engagement with materials, learning through doing and creating beauty in everyday objects. Today the Leach Pottery is a charitable trust that continues this historic legacy through a working production pottery, museum, exhibitions spaces, and a learning & participation studio. With over 20 years of outreach and inhouse ceramic education practice involving a broad spectrum of participants, the Learning & Participation team deliver the Leach philosophy through hands on activities. The Leach Pottery is managed by the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Ltd, a registered charity founded in 2005 reg. no 1111263. The primary objectives of the trust are to further the development of studio pottery, provide training in the art, craft and making of pottery and to advance the public education of the life and work of Bernard Leach and his circle.

For Leach Pottery enquiries please contact Libby Buckley, Director, Leach Pottery, Higher Stennack, St. Ives, Cornwall TR26 2HEdirector@leachpottery.comTel: 01736 799703www.leachpottery.comFor press information contact Mercedes Smith at Fine Art Communications,mercedes@fineartcommunications.co.uk,07825 270235,www.fineartcommunications.co.uk.

The Sensory Trust

The Sensory Trust makes places more accessible, attractive and useful for everyone, regardless of age, disability and social circumstances. Their work brings social and health benefits to people whose lives are affected by social exclusion, including older people, people with physical, sensory, and intellectual impairments and families and carers. They encourage richer connections between people and place so that people can value and get involved with their environment. They aim to remove barriers and make places and processes more accessible so that more people can join in; working with communities so that people can contribute to the decisions that affect them and the places where they live.

For further information, contact the Sensory Trust, c/o Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall PL24 2SG. +44(0)1726 222900, www.sensorytrust.org.uk

Feast

Feast is a programme to make great art happen across Cornwall. It harnesses the talents and energy of Cornwall's artists and communities, generating new opportunities for everyone to enjoy the arts. The focus is on bringing people together to share experiences as audiences or participants, and on animating local celebrations and cultural life.

For further information, contact FEAST, Krowji, The Old Grammar School, West Park, Redruth TR15 3AJ, 01209 312502,feast@actcornwall.org.uk

Arts Council England

Arts Council England was set up in 1946 by Royal Charter to champion and develop art and culture across the country. They are governed by an executive board and national and area councils. They invest public money including National Lottery money to help bring great art and culture to everyone. Over the next three years Arts Council England will invest £1.1 billion of public money from Government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create great art and culture for everyone, everywhere. They receive Government funding from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and their requirements are laid out in a funding agreement with them.

For further information, contact Arts Council England 0845 300 6200 or go to www.artscouncil.org.uk

-END-