About Potfest - it's history and organisers

POTFEST stage 1 .......... how it began

In 1989 Geoff and Christine Cox exhibited at their first Continental potters' market,
the International Ceramics Festival in Eindhoven, Holland . Potters from all over Europe
were exhibiting their work on market stalls in the city centre. It came as a revelation -
potters of international repute were away from a gallery setting and selling their work in the heart of the community.

Inspired by the idea of potters and the public together on common ground they wanted
to see something similar in the UK but soon realised that if it were to happen here,
they would have to do it -  and to put the event in the heart of their own farming
community they decided on a large under cover cattle market as a venue. 
Having struggled to get exposure for their own their work over the years they decided 
the event should be open entry, with no selection. In the spirit of fair play everyone would
have the same opportunity, the same sized pitch (a cattle pen ) with spaces allocated
strictly on a first come first served basis. The location would be Penrith,on the edge of 
the Lake District national park, their nearest town. This stands on a major crossroads
near the geographical centre of the UK.

So in early June 1994 Potfest in the Pens was born. The first potters' market of any size in
the UK.

POTFEST - stage 2 ..........extending the audience

In 1997 the formula was repeated in central Scotland at Perth, the ancient capitol, where
the Highlands meet the Lowlands.

In 2000 still working on an open entry and first come first served basis the Penrith event,
now in August, was oversubscribed with 300 applying for the 150 available spaces. An obvious answer was another show to extend the festival.

2001 - in late July ( the weekend before Potfest in the Pens ) Potfest in the Park was held at Hutton-in-the-Forest, an old Country House 4 miles north of Penrith. The festival was now two three-day shows on adjacent weekends. The new show was held under canvas on the parkland in front of the Big House where the open aspect and landscape setting would allow the display of work on an architectural scale not possible at the Pens. Exhibiting at this show would be by selection, making it a show of excellence attracting applicants from all over Europe and beyond. In that year, seven potters from Japan took part making the event truly international.

In 2002 in order to find more time for their own ceramics Geoff and Christine decided to concentrate their energies on developing the content of the extending festival in Penrith. Matthew, their son, took over the running of Potfest Scotland. Since then he has added Potfest South West in 2003, Potfest in the Peak District in 2005, and Potfest Shropshire in 2007.

POTFEST - stage 3 .......... developing ideas

Most professional potters work in isolation producing work on a day to day basis. Making orders, meeting deadlines, it's always a problem finding time to develop new ideas. In 1997 the Potfest potters' competition was started as a bit of fun at the show but also to encourage exhibitors to step away from their normal production. Each year they would make a special piece to a theme.
Since 2001 the Craftsman Magazine have sponsored a prize with an article on the winner in their special ceramics edition each June.

POTFEST - stage 4..........ceramics in the community

Back in 1996 Geoff and Chris organised a kiln building workshop in the days leading up to Potfest in the Pens ( Fire over the North )

In 1999, as a millennium project, with lottery funding, they built three woodfired kilns in various locations in the area.

In 2003 with Arts Council funding they ran Fire over the North 2, during the week between the Park and the Pens.

In 2004 with Arts Council, Rural Regeneration Cumbria, Leader+ and Eden Arts' backing they began work on a Kiln Park for Cumbria, building three more woodfired kilns at a local agricultural college.

In 2005 with four other Cumbrian potters they formed Ceramics North Ltd. - a Rural Enterprise to organise workshops and demonstrations in the area.

Since 2005 exhibitors at Potfest in the Pens have run free classes in various making terchniques to encourage members of the public to become more involved in the making process, to encourage them to take up ceramics and possibly even exhibit at the Pens in the future - to at least become better informed and at best inspire the next generation.

POTFEST - stage 5......... encouraging interaction

What Geoff and Chris saw in that first International Ceramics Festival in Eindhoven was more than a potters' market. It was a meeting place to network and build connections. A place where the more adventurous potters could meet like-minded souls.

The first conection with other International Ceramics Festival organisers was made in 1995 when a Belgian organiser asked Geoff to find UK exhibitors to take part in his show. As a result 7 Potfest potters exhibited at the Europese Keramiek Markt in Maaseik, Belgium in 1996.

Meeting potters here brought a number of Continental exhibitors to the Pens in 1997 and contact with the Dutch ceramics festival, Keramisto.

As networks grow and friendships develop so do opportunities for the more intrepid. Several potters who first exhibited at the Pens now regularly show at ceramics festivals in Holland, Belgium, Germany, France and Austria.

In 1999 a chance meeting in Cumbria with a Japanese potting family took Geoff and Christine to Japan in 2000. There they worked in the studio of Fumihiro Fuyushiba with an exhibition at the end of their stay. They met members of the Ceramic Art Association in Yokkaichi, and the following year 7 Japanese potters came to the first Potfest in the Park.

Two years later seven Potfest potters exhibited in Japan with The Banko Ceramic Art Association in Yokkaichi.

And so the networks grow............ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


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Chris's work Geoff's work	POTFEST stage 1 .......... how it began In 1989 Geoff and Christine Cox exhibited at their first Continental potters' market, the International Ceramics Festival in Eindhoven, Holland . Potters from all over Europe were exhibiting their work on market stalls in the city centre. It came as a revelation - potters of international repute were away from a gallery setting and selling their work in the heart of the community. Inspired by the idea of potters and the public together on common ground they wanted to see something similar in the UK but soon realised that if it were to happen here, they would have to do it - and to put the event in the heart of their own farming community they decided on a large under cover cattle market as a venue. Having struggled to get exposure for their own their work over the years they decided the event should be open entry, with no selection. In the spirit of fair play everyone would have the same opportunity, the same sized pitch (a cattle pen ) with spaces allocated strictly on a first come first served basis. The location would be Penrith,on the edge of the Lake District national park, their nearest town. This stands on a major crossroads near the geographical centre of the UK. So in early June 1994 Potfest in the Pens was born. The first potters' market of any size in the UK. POTFEST - stage 2 ..........extending the audience In 1997 the formula was repeated in central Scotland at Perth, the ancient capitol, where the Highlands meet the Lowlands. In 2000 still working on an open entry and first come first served basis the Penrith event, now in August, was oversubscribed with 300 applying for the 150 available spaces. An obvious answer was another show to extend the festival. 2001 - in late July ( the weekend before Potfest in the Pens ) Potfest in the Park was held at Hutton-in-the-Forest, an old Country House 4 miles north of Penrith. The festival was now two three-day shows on adjacent weekends. The new show was held under canvas on the parkland in front of the Big House where the open aspect and landscape setting would allow the display of work on an architectural scale not possible at the Pens. Exhibiting at this show would be by selection, making it a show of excellence attracting applicants from all over Europe and beyond. In that year, seven potters from Japan took part making the event truly international. In 2002 in order to find more time for their own ceramics Geoff and Christine decided to concentrate their energies on developing the content of the extending festival in Penrith. Matthew, their son, took over the running of Potfest Scotland. Since then he has added Potfest South West in 2003, Potfest in the Peak District in 2005, and Potfest Shropshire in 2007. POTFEST - stage 3 .......... developing ideas Most professional potters work in isolation producing work on a day to day basis. Making orders, meeting deadlines, it's always a problem finding time to develop new ideas. In 1997 the Potfest potters' competition was started as a bit of fun at the show but also to encourage exhibitors to step away from their normal production. Each year they would make a special piece to a theme. Since 2001 the Craftsman Magazine have sponsored a prize with an article on the winner in their special ceramics edition each June. POTFEST - stage 4..........ceramics in the community Back in 1996 Geoff and Chris organised a kiln building workshop in the days leading up to Potfest in the Pens ( Fire over the North ) In 1999, as a millennium project, with lottery funding, they built three woodfired kilns in various locations in the area. In 2003 with Arts Council funding they ran Fire over the North 2, during the week between the Park and the Pens. In 2004 with Arts Council, Rural Regeneration Cumbria, Leader+ and Eden Arts' backing they began work on a Kiln Park for Cumbria, building three more woodfired kilns at a local agricultural college. In 2005 with four other Cumbrian potters they formed Ceramics North Ltd. - a Rural Enterprise to organise workshops and demonstrations in the area. Since 2005 exhibitors at Potfest in the Pens have run free classes in various making terchniques to encourage members of the public to become more involved in the making process, to encourage them to take up ceramics and possibly even exhibit at the Pens in the future - to at least become better informed and at best inspire the next generation. POTFEST - stage 5......... encouraging interaction What Geoff and Chris saw in that first International Ceramics Festival in Eindhoven was more than a potters' market. It was a meeting place to network and build connections. A place where the more adventurous potters could meet like-minded souls. The first conection with other International Ceramics Festival organisers was made in 1995 when a Belgian organiser asked Geoff to find UK exhibitors to take part in his show. As a result 7 Potfest potters exhibited at the Europese Keramiek Markt in Maaseik, Belgium in 1996. Meeting potters here brought a number of Continental exhibitors to the Pens in 1997 and contact with the Dutch ceramics festival, Keramisto. As networks grow and friendships develop so do opportunities for the more intrepid. Several potters who first exhibited at the Pens now regularly show at ceramics festivals in Holland, Belgium, Germany, France and Austria. In 1999 a chance meeting in Cumbria with a Japanese potting family took Geoff and Christine to Japan in 2000. There they worked in the studio of Fumihiro Fuyushiba with an exhibition at the end of their stay. They met members of the Ceramic Art Association in Yokkaichi, and the following year 7 Japanese potters came to the first Potfest in the Park. Two years later seven Potfest potters exhibited in Japan with The Banko Ceramic Art Association in Yokkaichi. And so the networks grow............ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo