About Us
“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.
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.
Our 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 and Shoji’s vision.”
The Trust
The Leach Pottery is managed by the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Limited. A charity set up in 2004 to develop and manage the site. (Registered charity no. 1111263. Company limited by guarantee no. 05372378.)
Learn more about our staff and trustees.
Our Vision
Our vision is that potters at all levels will engage with the Leach Pottery as part of a thriving UK community.
Through working with clay, the Leach Pottery will bring enjoyment, inspiration, new skills and increased well-being to peoples’ lives.
The Leach Pottery, with its significant historical importance and contemporary activities, will be nationally and internationally recognised as the home of Studio Pottery.
Everything we do will bring clay and the story of the Leach Pottery to life.
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 within this rich environment
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:
Being creative with clay: inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in pottery, highlighting the well-being benefits
Developing talent: provide training and opportunities to experience clay at all levels through throwing, hand-building, and production pottery
Developing national & international links: through exchange, dialogue and friendship
Valuing the handmade: building connections between makers and users
Helping the studio pottery community thrive: creating dialogue, pushing boundaries, highlighting tradition and programming exhibitions.
Enterprises
The Leach Studio is operated by the Bernard Leach Enterprises Ltd. (Company registration 05965856), a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Ltd. Profits from the activities of the Enterprises are covenanted to the Trust to support our charitable activities.
Strategies, Policies & Plan
Collections Development Plan 2018 (pdf)
Leach Pottery Privacy Notice (pdf)
Complaints Procedure (pdf)
Dignity & Respect Policy (pdf)
We are proud to be part of the Artist's Studio Museum Network and the thriving Creative Industries sector in Cornwall.
Audience Consultation - asking you
In the autumn of 202o we conducted some research with our users and the local community. More than 1200 replied. See the full report Audience Consultation 2020.
