_{By Dr Amanda Sefton Hogg, Canterbury Festival Public Engagement Manager}

In early 2023 I shared the first of many enthusiastic conversations with Duncan Hooson and Claire West, co-Directors of the highly respected national creative learning company Clayground Collective. Inspired by each other we devised the community focused, 3D ceramics project, Open Clay – Building Bridges Together. We produced Open Clay as part of a creative learning project with Canterbury College students, and with the invaluable contribution of ceramics lead, Luke Godfrey, worked together with members of the public to deliver a day of clay-based-making in the historic heart of Canterbury last October.

What a wonderful community activity for all ages, fun and super engaging for grown-ups and young people alike; we absolutely adored it and felt so happy to have this wonderful experience on our doorstep. Our daughter talked about it for days. – parent, Canterbury Resident

Following the success of this well received community event in the 2023 Canterbury Festival, we were delighted to present the 2024 iteration of the project, Open Clay – Joyful Assembly, in collaboration with bOing!, the Gulbenkian Arts Centre’s annual family festival, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend on the University of Kent Canterbury campus.

Despite the relentless rain on the first day, the overall response was incredible. We engaged with thousands of wonderfully imaginative participants of all ages, who added their own impressive touches to this ‘relaxing and mindful’ public art project. Many families who braved the rain returned the next day to bask in both the sunshine and the celebratory atmosphere of Open Clay – Joyful Assembly.

A joyful event bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and all expressing their creativity through clay. – parent, bOing! visitor

This is a wonderful project. It really makes me want to cry! – parent, bOing! visitor

Over 5,500 children and adults joined us, working together to make our magnificent, collaborative clay sculpture, putting into practice the very essence of Potclays Ltd’s mission to encourage community ‘educlaytion’.

Thank you to our creative learning partners, Canterbury Festival, Clayground Collective, Canterbury College Ceramics, Gulbenkian Arts Centre bOing! team, and to Potclays Ltd for their collective generous support of this special public engagement project.