The Leach Pottery

Discover The Leach Pottery

“The Leach Pottery, founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, is among the most respected and influential studio potteries in the world. Over the last hundred years it has forged the shape of Studio Pottery in the UK and beyond.

Browse The Leach Pottery shop

Photo credits: Matthew Tyas

The Leach Pottery was reopened to the public as a Museum, Shop and Studio in 2008. As a registered charity we are an ambassador for pottery, a champion for the handmade, and an open door for communities to access creativity. We are never happier than when we welcome people to our home, whether they are visiting the Museum and Shop or getting their hands dirty at one of our workshop sessions.

Clay has so much to offer to support well-being and mental health. Our aim is to ensure that the Pottery continues to thrive for many years to come, providing opportunities to support emerging talent, develop new thinking, and to help everyone access great art.

Values of inclusivity and exchange are ever more important in this changing world. Our dedication to handmade products, created using local natural materials, demonstrates that sustainable practice, beauty and quality can coexist.

I am in awe of the work that everyone at the Leach Pottery achieves. Everyday our dedicated team of staff and volunteers work to stay true to Bernard.

Our Mission

The Leach Pottery advances and promotes pottery as an art form using craft and skills to bring beauty, enjoyment and well-being to life. We do this through inspiring, making, training and teaching, engaging people, and promoting the Leach legacy.

Our Values

• Inclusive we are committed to creating a unique environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and encouraged to be creative and artistically challenged

• Respectful we respect the history we are here to preserve and promote.  We value the wealth of talent we are surrounded by and we understand the need to continue developing the Leach Pottery

• Exchange we recognise that the Leach Pottery was built on friendship and exchange and we will continue to develop artistic diversity and ideas around this

• History we will inspire others through the ethos of Bernard Leach and the Leach Pottery’s traditions.

Our Aims

Always supporting diversity and talent development to facilitate:

1. Being creative with clay: inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to involve themselves in pottery.

2. Developing talent: provide training and opportunities to experience clay at all levels through throwing, hand-building, and production pottery

3. Developing national & international links: through exchange, dialogue and friendship

4. Valuing the handmade: building connections between makers and users

5. Helping the studio pottery community thrive: creating dialogue, pushing boundaries, highlighting tradition and programming exhibitions.

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   Are you a maker, grower or creative course provider? Like to list with us and benefit from joining our supportive community? We’d love to hear from you. Check out the packages we offer on our Join Us page and get in touch…

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