Steve Bradley, Head of Arts Sports and Tourism at Notts County Council has published an Open Letter on the petition forum, in response to the petition to Save Rufford Ceramic Centre.
Here is an initial response to Steve Bradley’s letter, from David Binch, Andy McInnes and Stephen Dee.
Response to NCC Open Letter by David Binch, Andy McInnes and Stephen Dee
The response can also be found on the petition forum, where it is published in four parts: Petition Forum
3 responses so far ↓
Alan Birchall // January 3, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank Katie & Carl for all their hard work over the past few weeks in getting this campaign to this stage.
I also wish to pay tribute to Steve Bradley and his NCC colleagues for unwittingly bringing together a force for change and for uniting a community of ceramic lovers throughout the United Kingdom and indeed across the globe.
The regard and appreciation of all petitioners for the Rufford Ceramic Centre and its activities is clearly evident and its closure can surely no longer be considered an option. Never again should financially driven, short term, thinking threaten its existence. All avenues to secure its realistic and viable future development must be exhaustively explored and the possibility of its expansion to become a national centre for ceramics should be actively pursued. It could become a true ‘National Treasure’
I suggest that charitable trust status should be sought and feel that many of the
1000 plus petitioners would be pleased to offer their support in some way.
My wife and I would certainly contribute should such a trust be established and would also give serious consideration to bequeathing a substantial part of our own ceramic collection if a national centre were developed.
Carl Gray // January 4, 2008 at 1:33 am
Alan, thank you for your ongoing support. Let us hope that we can make real progress at the meeting.
Richard Vanags // January 15, 2008 at 11:49 am
It looks like an underhanded way to reduce support for the centre and allow the NCC to use this lack of interest as a way of closing it down. There are very few places which have this type of facility anywhere and with its place in the midlands which gives it access from all parts of the country, it seems the NCC is missing an opportunity to actively promote this to a wider audience. It is sad that we seem to be losing somewhere to help promote art and have a possible centre of exellence in a county which needs to raise it’s profile and get people involved in positive activities. But 1000 signatures is only a drop in an ocean and will not sway any decision the NCC have already come to. You need to get national support and use the mainstream press to try and get this.
I do see this as a sad time for the Rufford Ceramics Centre and would be dissapointed if it were to close. I have only missed one Earth and Fire and I do look forward to coming and seeing potters both old and new.