Punjab to the Potteries: Photography Workshop

Make your own mini portrait and find out the fascinating techniques behind the Punjab to the Potteries exhibition at Chapters Cafe!

As part of the Punjab to The Potteries project, photographic artist Sam Ivin created 23 portraits of the people who contributed their experiences as part of the research. During the process of taking the portraits, Sam took a keen interest in the sitter’s individual stories and used his conversations with them as the basis for the decorations that he hand painted onto each print. Tailored to each individual, they include colourful patterns and symbols inspired by Sikh images and Punjabi fashion.

During this session, Sam will outline his time as a photographer, and the journey from documenting stories of migration in Settling to the Punjab to the Potteries project.

The workshop will discuss different types of portraiture and set practical challenges to take some yourself. You will then print your images and decorate them.

You don’t need to bring any equipment to join the workshop; you can chose to use your phone or a compact camera provided by Sam. PLUS, Sam is offering to troubleshoot one of your own photos! Simply email it along with your query to askus@appetite.org.uk by Friday 20 November and he will go over it with you during the workshop. N.B. you must be happy to share the image in front of the group.


More in the series

If you are interested in this event, why not check out the other events in the Punjab to the Potteries series?

Friday 17 November: Conversation and Q&A session with members of the project team covering concept, production, community engagement and next steps.

You can also see the Punjab to the Potteries exhibition in Chapters Café until 25 November.

If you’d like future updates about Punjab to the Potteries direct to your inbox, email askus@appetite.org.uk or answer ‘Yes’ to the question when booking your ticket on Eventbrite.


Getting there

Parking is free on campus after 5pm every day during the week and all day on weekends. If you are planning on arriving before then, there is a small pay and display car park on Union Square but please note this does become very busy.

Access Chapters Cafe is fully accessible. There are a number of disabled parking bays in close proximity on Union Square car park. There is ramped and flat access from the car park to Chapters Cafe.


Want to know what else is going on?

Visit the What’s On page for events and go to Get Involved for more opportunities. For regular updates, why not subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook @appetite.stoke, Instagram @appetite_stoke, and X @appetitestoke.

Punjab to the Potteries: Conversation + Q&A

Come along to Chapter’s Cafe, Keele University this Friday 17 November, 6-9pm, and let’s share some great ideas! Join us for the second event in our Punjab to the Potteries at Keele creative series as we explore the evolution of the project so far from one family’s photo collection to two new short plays and a LOT of new friendships!

Plus, give us your ideas for what exciting new directions we can take Punjab to the Potteries in next!

On the evening you will hear from four project members with unique roles, challenges and perspectives:

Gemma Thomas: Gemma is the director of Appetite who, in conjunction with their lead organisation, New Vic Theatre, commissioned the two new plays

Rasandeep Singh Devgon: as an Appetite Community Co-ordinator, Ras worked on spreading awareness throughout the local South Asian community

Valdev Bansal: the original concept of Punjab to the Potteries was Val’s, thanks to some old family photos

Filiz Ozcan: Filiz cast and directed the play readings

If you want to find out how to develop your creative project from concept to completion, come along and pick the brains of members of the team.


More in the series

If you are interested in this event, why not check out the other events in the Punjab to the Potteries series?

Monday 20 November: Photography workshop with photographic artist Sam Ivin

You can also see the Punjab to the Potteries exhibition in Chapters Café until 25 November.

If you’d like future updates about Punjab to the Potteries direct to your inbox, email askus@appetite.org.uk or answer ‘Yes’ to the question when booking your ticket on Eventbrite.


Getting there

Parking is free on campus after 5pm every day during the week and all day on weekends. If you are planning on arriving before then, there is a small pay and display car park on Union Square but please note this does become very busy.

Access Chapters Cafe is fully accessible. There are a number of disabled parking bays in close proximity on Union Square car park. There is ramped and flat access from the car park to Chapters Cafe.


Want to know what else is going on?

Visit the What’s On page for events and go to Get Involved for more opportunities. For regular updates, why not subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook @appetite.stoke, Instagram @appetite_stoke, and X @appetitestoke.

Punjab to the Potteries: Writing Workshop with Sarah Bedi

As part of the Punjab to The Potteries project, Playwright Sarah Bedi wrote the new short play When You Ask. Newly commissioned by Appetite and New Vic Theatre, the play is inspired by the stories of people in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Sarah now wants to share that experience to inspire others in their creative writing endeavours. Sarah will share not only the process of drawing on real stories to create something new, she will also talk about the profound connections she felt during her research.

During the practical part of the evening, Sarah will guide you through exercises and techniques that you can use during your own writing process.

We are sure that Sarah’s unique perspective will give you some excellent know-how to help you find and craft your next story.

Please note that this is an introductory workshop. There will be no finished piece of work completed ion the evening.


More in the series

If you are interested in this event, why not check out the other events in the Punjab to the Potteries series?

Friday 17 November: Conversation and Q&A session with members of the project team covering concept, production, community engagement and next steps

Monday 20 November: Photography workshop with photographic artist Sam Ivin

You can also see the Punjab to the Potteries exhibition in Chapters Café until 25 November.

If you’d like future updates about Punjab to the Potteries direct to your inbox, email askus@appetite.org.uk or answer ‘Yes’ to the question when booking your ticket on Eventbrite.


Getting there

Parking is free on campus after 5pm every day during the week and all day on weekends. If you are planning on arriving before then, there is a small pay and display car park on Union Square but please note this does become very busy.

Access Chapters Cafe is fully accessible. There are a number of disabled parking bays in close proximity on Union Square car park. There is ramped and flat access from the car park to Chapters Cafe.


Want to know what else is going on?

Visit the What’s On page for events and go to Get Involved for more opportunities. For regular updates, why not subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook @appetite.stoke, Instagram @appetite_stoke, and X @appetitestoke.

Punjab to the Potteries: An Exhibition at Keele University

Did you know that the Punjab to the Potteries exhibition is on at Keele University? First shown at New Vic Theatre in the run up to the play reading event of two newly commissioned short plays, the exhibition is currently on show in Chapters Cafe.

Punjab to the Potteries is a joint project between Appetite and New Vic. Two playwrights with strong ties to the South Asian community – Shahid Iqbal Khan and Sarah Bedi – were each commissioned to create a new 30-minute plays. The plays were researched and influenced by the memories and stories of people who were either born in the Punjab and migrated to The Potteries, or whose family made the journey and were born here. The plays were read by a cast during a celebration event at the theatre on 12 August 2023, which was a sell-out success.

As part of the project, photographic artist Sam Ivin created 23 portraits of the people who contributed their experiences as part of the research. During the process of taking the portraits, Sam took a keen interest in the sitter’s individual stories and used his conversations with them as the basis for the decorations that he hand painted onto each print. Tailored to each individual, they include colourful patterns and symbols inspired by Sikh images and Punjabi fashion.

If you’re interested in Sam’s artform, you can join him in a free workshop at Keele University as part of a series of events showcasing the practical processes and personal experiences of bringing a project like Punjab to the Potteries to life.

Monday 13 November: Sarah Bedi talk and introduction to writing. Sarah will discuss her connection with the stories she was told and how she found the experience of creating something new from them. She will then give audience members som exercises and techniques to help them begin their own writing journey

Friday 17 November: Members of the Punjab to the Potteries team, Gemma Thomas (Appetite director), Rasandeep Devgon (community engagement), Val Bansal (project originator), and Filiz Ozcan (play director) discuss the project, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

Monday 20 November: Sam Ivin will give a brief introduction to his career as a photographic artist before taking audience members through practical exercises to capture portraits and work with the prints as art.

Booking by Eventbrite will be open soon so do please check back.


You can see the Punjab to the Potteries exhibition in Chapters Cafe until 25 November:
Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 6pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:30am – 4pm

Parking is free on campus after 5pm every day during the week and all day on weekends. If you wish to visit on a week day during the day there is a small pay and display car park on Union Square but please note this does become very busy.

Access Chapters Cafe is fully accessible. There are a number of disabled parking bays in close proximity on Union Square car park. There is ramped and flat access from the car park to Chapters Cafe. Chapters Cafe is a public cafe so it can become busy with customers during a weekday; if you prefer a quieter time to visit we suggest after 5pm on a weekday or going along on the weekend.

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