The Campaign to Save the Wedgwood Museum received the shocking news that the UNESCO recognised archive of international importance is not held in trust and can be dispersed and sold to meet wholly disproportionate £135m Pension Fund liabilities. Read the Press release from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) lawyershere. Stoke-upon-Trent MP Hon. Dr Tristram Hunt MP is meeting with Government Ministers on December 20th to discuss the plight of the Museum. The Battle continues – continued political lobbying is essential: write to your MP to drive home how important this unique collection is to you. Campaign leader Alison Wedgwood: “We will begin a fund raising campaign in the new year, asking the government for urgent support, and seeking support from the Art Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and as many generous philanthropists as we can cajole. This collection is not leaving Staffordshire without a fight!”
Write to you MP, Join our Supporters roll to declare your support and to be kept up to date with the Campaign: help to Save Wedgwood for the Nation. I was shocked to hear of this disgusting decision – I presume under the existing law the courts had little option! I have written to my local MP seeking support and would ask that all who read this article do the same – either to their MP or if outside the UK, Direct to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron. Please also Join the supporters group above. Here is a copy of my letter: Dear Nicholas Soames,
I run a major website for ceramic art, www.studiopottery.co.uk with an audience of some 25000 per month, with several hundred ceramic artist members. I have watched the unfolding saga surrounding the Wedgwood Museum with consternation and sadness. In essence, as I understand it, because a few museum staff were linked with the company the whole of the assets of the museum can be claimed and sold for the benefit of the old group pension scheme deficit. This ‘loophole’ in the law has been confirmed by the court this week.
The result is that this archive of International importance, recognised by UNESCO can now be split up and sold off to meet the group pension fund liabilities.
http://savewedgwood.blogspot.com/2011/12/decision-collection-can-be-dispersed.html
Destruction of this unique collection and archive, which was always intended to be held in trust for perpetuity would be a National DISGRACE.
Both personally and on behalf of Studiopottery.co.uk we seek your support in finding a way that this unique collection can be saved for the nation and for future generations.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Dee
Founder and Director
Studiopottery.co.uk
Call for artists: Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award
Closing date: 1 February 2012
Entries for the 2012 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award (SMFACA) can only be submitted online via our Online Entry Form. With $55,000 in prize money, the SMFACA cements its place as the premier Australian / International acquisitive ceramic art award. Three artists will be shortlisted in each category; Australian, International and Emerging Australian. One recipient artist will be chosen from the shortlisted artists in each category and receive a significant stipend to produce a body of work for exhibition on the understanding that the gallery will select part of the work for its collection. There will be six months between the announcement of award recipients and the delivery of works to the gallery.
Find all the details here.
