Firing Up

Interest in ceramics education is dwindling: our response is a national clay programme to ‘refire’ kilns in schools and inspire learners.

About the programme

Firing Up is a new national programme of highlighting clay and ceramics. The initiative has been development by the Crafts Council through a steering committee of representatives from NALN, NSEAD, University of the Arts (London), Clayground Collective and Ofsted. The core elements have been designed to:

1. Raise awareness of the importance of clay in our everyday lives and in world cultures;

2. Support schools in using this medium creatively and confidently, and in optimising its educational value for students and creating sustainable local links;

3. Showcase and exhibit the work of young people; and

4. Demonstrate the links between clay-work and the wider creative industry sector showing that working in ceramics is a viable career choice.

The programme uses a ‘cluster’ format that will be constructed around the ceramics departments within partner Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Each regional cluster will consist of one HEI who will supply a ceramics ‘ambassador’ (usually the ceramics course leader), a technician and up to ten students, and five secondary schools.

It includes the following core elements:
• ‘Kiln Rehab’ – the rejuvenation of clay facilities in participant schools, supported by the expertise of ceramic –specialist staff from partner HEIs.
• ‘Clay Skills Training’ – twilight CPD for cluster teachers to build confidence and expertise using clay in the classroom.
• ‘Project Clay’ – an innovative creative workshop programme designed by Clayground Collective and delivered by local practitioners to enthuse and inspire the school community through a collaborative project.

Each phase of the programme has been carefully designed to support and inspire schools in using this magical material confidently and creatively with their pupils, in as broad a way as possible. In particular, we hope that through the building of sustainable relationships with HEIs and local schools, as ‘critical friends’, schools will feel inspired to take risks and enlarge upon the scope of the medium in a cross-curricular dimension as part of a creative curriculum.

Firing Up is generously supported by a 3 year grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

• 

  The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the leading independent grant-making foundations in the UK, and aims to improve the quality of life throughout the UK.
  We do this by funding the charitable activities of organisations that have the ideas and ability to achieve change for the better. We take pride in supporting work that might otherwise be considered difficult to fund.

  Find out more
• 

  The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is one of the larger independent grant-making foundations in the UK. We make grants to organisations which aim to maximise opportunities for individuals to experience a full quality of life, both now and in the future. In particular we are concerned with children and young people, and others who are disadvantaged.

  Find out more
• 

  We would also like to extend our gratitude to the official suppliers of Firing Up, Technology Supplies Ltd and Potclays ltd., whom we are pleased to recommend as suppliers of high quality ceramic resources to educational institutions.
  http://www.technologysupplies.co.uk/
  http://www.potclays.co.uk/

Firing Up, Phase 1: 2010

Year 1 of the programme will comprise the following 3 clusters:

• Greater London – with University of the Arts, London (Central St Martins and Camberwell colleges)
• South West – with Plymouth College of Art and Design
• North West – with Liverpool Hope University

These regional clusters have been selected and composed according to our project criteria:
• Geography – underpinning an effort to ensure a good national spread;
• Presence – of a positive ambassador in each H.E. institution to drive the success of each cluster and provide expertise;
• Facilities/ Resources – including the presence of a kiln, departmental capacity for hosting teaching peers, and the economic situation of the school and its community (i.e. identification of ‘need’).

Over the 3 years of the programme, we hope to establish Firing Up clusters in each English region where there is a strong academic and technical resource in ceramics.

Express your interest:

We are currently considering potential participants for the next phase of the scheme, scheduled to launch in 2011. If you work in a secondary school or academy, or deliver a ceramics course at H.E. level, we welcome your expressions of interest at this stage.

Please send a letter or email to detailing your interest in Firing Up, and the benefits you believe the programme could bring to your school or institution. You should provide a brief description of the current provision of ceramics in your school or institution, including the present state of any kiln facilities (schools only).

Email: participation@craftscouncil.org.uk
 
Or, write to:
Participation & Learning,
Crafts Council,
44a Pentonville Road,
London N1 9BY

Links:
National Arts Learning Network
National Society for Education in Art & Design
University of the Arts, London
Clayground Collective
Ofsted