ARTIST Ian Giles is inviting people who live and work in Poole to take part in a creative project celebrating the history of Poole Pottery.

Throughout May he will be creating a large collection of hand-thrown ceramic pots and plates and is looking for local people from businesses and manufacturers in Poole who are interested in learning about glazing to take part in the project.

Weekly glazing workshops will be held at Poole Museum and the Dolphin Shopping Centre with the finished products being featured in an exhibition at Poole Museum later in the year.

When Poole Pottery was a thriving manufacturer, workers were given time and materials to explore their own creativity alongside their routine jobs – they called this ‘Free Time’. The designs they produced expressed a vibrancy that went on to define the pottery during the period.

From its inception in 1873 Poole Pottery was often credited as being at the cutting edge of ceramic design, and as such the pots it produced typify the eras in which they were made.

Ian said: "I'm interested in how oral traditions, for example folk songs, are passed down and learnt between generations. In the same way these pottery glazing workshops pass on local skills and heritage through the process of actually making something."

Inspired by the iconic shapes and colours of Poole Pottery, with particular emphasis on the Delphis range from the 1960s and 70s, the workshops will be held at Poole Museum on May 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 7pm to 9pm and at the Dolphin Shopping Centre on May 7, 14 and 21 from 10am to 11.30am.

"This is a very exciting project which not only recognises one of Poole's most famous industries but celebrates their craftsmanship in a creative and novel way," said Dominic Kippin, arts development officer, Borough of Poole.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Ian Giles before May 1 at igiles.studio@gmail.com or call Poole Museum on 01202 262600. More details of the workshops are available at freetimepoole.com.