'UNESCO status would support creation of jobs'

THIS time last year an international panel of jurors visited Stoke-on-Trent to assess our credentials to become a designated World Craft City.

- Paul Williams - Founding Board Member, Stoke Creates

The World Crafts Council's prestigious affirmation was subsequently described as 'a wonderful, historic and unique' accolade.

A designation which not only honours our ceramic city's historic past, but as the jurors acknowledged, propels it into a promising future where craftsmanship, creativity and community continue to thrive on a global scale, with Stoke-on-Trent setting 'a benchmark for craft cities worldwide!

Opening a Parliamentary creative industries debate last October, city MP Gareth Snell argued that the Potteries 'was and is the crucible of creativity. We were at the forefront of the last industrial revolution, and we are now quietly and diligently leading our very own creative renaissance in the city and surrounding area.

Having previously set out why it is important to capitalise on World Craft City status, I was pleased to see this explicitly referenced in the recent city centre masterplan brief linked to the transformation of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and the need to strengthen the cultural offer for the city more widely.

At the start of this year of centenary celebrations, a council-led delegation delivered its new 'Future 100' vision for growth and prosperity to 10 Downing Street.