Potclays supports Stoke-on-Trent's Poppy bid

14-18 NOW: First World War Centenary Art Commissions has invited expressions of interest from organisations wishing to present the ceramic poppies during the coming two years. Potclays is proud to have played a pivotal role alongside Tristram Hunt MP and The Sentinel newspaper in pulling together the core team that will spearhead the Stoke-on-Trent bid to host the poppies.

The installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ – ceramic poppies and original concept created by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces originally at HM Tower of London 2014 had an extraordinary public and media impact during its presentation between 5th August and 11^th November 2014.

Two elements of the installation, Wave and Weeping Window, have been bought for the nation by the Clore Duffield Foundation and the Backstage Trust respectively and given as gifts to 14-18 NOW and Imperial War Museums.

The UK Government has given financial support to help ensure that the sculptures are seen by people across the UK.

Wave features 5,000 poppies and Weeping Window features 2,800 poppies.

14-18 NOW is organising a series of presentations of the two sculptures at different locations around the UK from 2015 to 2018 with support from the UK Government for this initiative. It is likely that Wave will be sited in more rural locations, and Weeping Window will be displayed against a building of some height.

In the autumn of 2018 one work will be presented at IWM North and the other at IWM London, after which they will remain in IWM’s long-term ownership.

At Potclays we feel that the City of Stoke has a great story to tell and must be one of the venues selected for the Weeping Window installation. We will be working hard to make that happen and hope that we can rely on your support to bring the Poppies back home even if it is just for a while.