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The
Scottish Potters Association
is a members’ run organisation managed
by a twelve strong committee, elected
each year, under a Chairman elected for
three years.
The SPA aims to promote
any activity which in the opinion of the
members will further their collective
and individual interests as potters/ceramists
and to raise the standards and awareness
of the craft when possible. The SPA is
open to any individual or organisation
with an interest in ceramics. This means
that any professional or amateur maker,
collector or someone with a commercial
interest in ceramics is welcome to join.
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The
SPA began spontaneously when a group of potters at a Trade
show found the most useful part was sharing information and ideas.
Within a few weeks a viable group came together, a constitution
was drawn up, aims defined, and the Association was born.
All we had then was enthusiasm.
The original minutes and many documents were hand written;
not all members had phones, far fewer had faxes or even typewriters.
Nevertheless exhibitions were set up; demonstrations held in workshops
and colleges all over the country; and since 1978 an annual residential
weekend, where activities such as kiln building take place, has
been held every spring.
During this time the SPA has grown organically,
always responding to the needs of its members
who live and work in a wide geographical spread across Scotland.
It is run by a committee elected annually, and is proud of its independence;
work is undertaken voluntarily, and regular activities are funded
from membership subscriptions, outside funding only being sought
for special events such as the Clay in Bloom exhibition.
Times change in thirty years. Technology,
materials and methods move on sometimes with alarming
speed; many potters still live in beautiful rural locations but
others now have an urban background, sharing workshops in old industrial
buildings; government policies and support for the arts have altered
many times, as have the organisations designed to implement those
policies, some disappearing for ever; college courses have changed
direction and ceramics departments been subsumed within other departments;
traditional skills have been overtaken by new demands; pottery has
become ceramics, a medium for invention and expressing ideas.
But the appeal of clay remains universal,
as shown by the popularity of pottery courses and classes. There
are more galleries exhibiting and selling ceramics than there were
30 years ago and pottery festivals attract large audiences, eager
to learn and to participate.
The communication explosion
and the vast amount of information easily available, contributes
to this. It is hard to remember how few books and how little technical
knowledge there was compared to the shelves of enticing volumes
in bookshops now. Suppliers’ lists consisted of a few photo-copied
sheets, listing a very restricted number of items, unlike the glossy
brochures of today. Our own newsletter bore no resemblance to the
well produced quarterly publication it has become today.
The SPA can look back with satisfaction on thirty years of fulfilling
the original aim “ to raise the standards and awareness of
the craft whenever possible”. Now it is the time to celebrate
past achievements, remember with pleasure the road the SPA has travelled,
and look forward to future developments. |
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Barbel Dister
barbel@tartansquarehead.co.uk
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4 Barkly Street, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YG
01381 600240
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Fran Marquis-Faulkes
chairman@scottishpotters.org
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4 Springfield Terrace, Arbroath, Angus DE11 1EL
01241 439714
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Jane Kelly
exhibitions@scottishpotters.org
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Valleyfield House Pottery, High Street, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 8HS
01968 677854
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Alice Buttress
membership@scottishpotters.org
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Carrbridge Studio, Carrbridge, Inverness PH23 3AN
01479 841247
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Bill Runciman
runcimanpotters@btinternet.com
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11 East Harbour Road, Charleston, Fife KY11 3EA
01388 873096
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Nicola Lindsay
nicolaceramic@yahoo.co.uk
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21 Margaret Street, Greenock, Inverclyde, PA16 8BU
01475 729875
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Hannah McAndrew
publicity@scottishpotters.org
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The Barm Pottery, Studio 1, Lochdougan House, Kelton, Castle Douglas, DG7 1SX
01556 680220
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Diane Cassidy
secretary@scottishpotters.org
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20 South Road, Cupar, Fife KY15 5JF
07866 025491
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Colin Mair
treasurer@scottishpotters.org
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19H Riverside Drive, Aberdeen AB11 7DG
01224 595184
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Jeff Buttress
info@scottishpotters.org
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Carrbridge Studio, Carrbridge, Inverness PH23 3AN
01479 841247
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Aline-Wendy Dunlop
alinewendy@btinternet.com
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8 Regent Park Square, Glasgow G41 2AG
0141 4240464
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Hannah McAndrew
newsletter@scottishpotters.org
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The Barm Pottery, Studio 1, Lochdougan House, Kelton, Castle Douglas DG7 1SX
01556 680220
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Fiona Byrne Sutton
fbyrnesutton@hotmail.com
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Alloa Clay Station, Units 5 & 6, Claremont Workshops, Ludgate, Alloa, FK10 1DP
0141 883 8035
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Maria Nordgren
workshops@scottishpotters.org
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The Willow House, 6 St. Andrew Street, Alyth, PH11 8AT
01828 632179
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Christine Flynn
christine.flynn@rocketmail.com
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19 Craigie Place, Kirkaldy, Fife, KY2 6JQ
01592 205357
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