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.”
Our Vision
The Leach Pottery is a place of creativity, connectedness and being well, committed to bringing clay to life, celebrating its rich history and supporting a vibrant future for studio ceramics.
Our Values
Our Values are at the core of all our activity, planning and creativity.
1. Quality & Care in everything we do
2. Sustainability for our organisation and the environment
3. Creativity in the work we make, and the work we do
4. Welcoming by inviting, understanding and creating friendships & exchange whilst championing inclusivity & diversity
5. Living Tradition of cherishing and passing on legacy, knowledge, skills, ethos and the site of the Leach Pottery whilst continuing to evolve and challenge creative boundaries
Our Aims
1. Welcome
Provide a warm welcome to everyone, broadening audiences, and deepening relationships.
2. Celebrate and share the Leach legacy
Capturing the history of the Leach Pottery from a variety of sources and maintaining a living tradition and the site of the Leach Pottery, whilst continuing to evolve and challenge creative boundaries.
3. Creative Hub
Establish a creative hub, where creativity through clay will flourish and people can access formal training as well as informal opportunities to learn about and experience the well-being benefits of working with clay.
4. Restoration of Buildings
Conserve and restore the historical buildings on the site for future generations to enjoy.
5. Economic Sustainability
Become economically sustainable and able to expand commercial activities in line with ambition and need.
6. Environmental Sustainability
Take action to reduce our negative environmental impacts, through research and understanding and through adoption of more environmentally friendly technologies and practices.
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.)
Enterprises Ltd.
The Leach Pottery 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.
