The Burton at Bideford, Art Gallery and Museum were delighted to attend Ceramic Art London 2022 to present The Emmanuel Cooper Craft Pottery Charitable Trust Prize and in turn to acquire a new work for their ceramics collection.
Selected by the Craft Pottery Charitable Trust affiliated with the Craft Potters Association, the Burton were presented with the opportunity in recognition of their programme of contemporary ceramics as well as their slipware collection.
Recent ceramic installations at the Burton have included the award-winning exhibition Dead Dad Book from local ceramicists Vicky Lindo and Bill Brookes, winners of the British Ceramics Biennial Award 2019. Welcome to my World: ceramics with narrative, an exhibition commissioned by the Burton and curated by Nick Duxbury which is now out on tour in the UK. Plus most recently Breaking with Tradition: a tale of two towns, an exhibition in partnership with the British Ceramics Biennial. The show celebrated the importance of heritage and place in the progression of contemporary ceramics, exploring the different clay traditions of Stoke-on-Trent and Bideford while examples from local artists represented Bideford ceramic traditions.
Following in the illustrious feet of some large institutions including the V&A, National Museum of Wales, The Potteries Museum Stoke on Trent and York Museum and Art Gallery. The prize took the form of being invited to choose work up to the value of £1,000 from one exhibitor at the Ceramic Art London exhibition.
The prize is generously supported by David Horbury, partner of the late Emmanuel Cooper and was presented by David alongside the Burton’s Director Ian Danby. The Burton were thrilled to select work by artist and ceramicist Rebecca Appleby, the stunning ceramic sculpture will now join the Burton’s Permanent Collection.
Ian Danby, Director of the Burton says: ‘It is a great honour to present the prize in recognition of our programme. The selection of Rebecca Appleby allows us to acquire a contemporary work from the Ceramic Art London exhibition to join our collection.’
