The World in One City Project
The Jubilee Group is a club of 40-60 adults, young people and families living in Stoke On Trent and waiting for decisions on their visa or immigration/asylum status. The World in One City Project, delivered in partnership with British Ceramics Biennial, has worked with 20 people from the club and they have participated in a series of ceramics workshops at the former Spode factory site in Stoke On Trent.
The aim of the project is to engage with diverse cultural communities living in Stoke–on-Trent and to explore and express cultural identities through making ceramics and sharing food. During the workshops the group has explored the connection between food – preparing it, presenting it, eating it, and ceramics.
Communities, regions, nations, races and cultures are often identified with different kinds of cuisine, cooking methods and eating rituals and this is reflected in ceramic cooking and eating utensils. However globalisation of culture, the movement of people across the world and the mass production of ceramic ware has led to the distinctiveness of each culture being weakened. The displacement of individuals and communities from their traditions and heritage is reflected by the distance from the mainstream cultural activity and events.
The World in One City Project will bring international artists together with diverse cultural and community groups in Stoke-on-Trent to explore ideas of cultural identity. Together the artists and community groups will research, design, make and commission unique collections of ceramic wares. The wares will relate directly to the preparation, presentation and consumption of foods.
Jasleen Kaur is the designer leading this project in partnership with British Ceramics Biennial. She has led the group through a creative process to produce the range of wares. The surface pattern, design, form and function of the wares will reflect their research findings.
The group will be coming together to host a large meal, using their range of wares and share the experience and outcomes of the project with each other and with the wider The Jubilee Project. The World in One City Project will also be presented as part of the British Ceramics Biennial festival 2015, placing the project on the national stage giving a voice to those communities represented.
Project partners: Jubilee Club, Volunteer Organisers, supported by the United Reformed Churches in North Staffordshire and The British Ceramics Biennial BCB – See more at: http://www.appetitestoke.co.uk/whatson/preview/146#sthash.QaqQlnnM.dpuf
