2019 Activity Schedule
There are more than 80 activities taking place as part of Stoking Curiosity 2019. Please use the drop-down boxes below to find out more about what is taking place:
Friday 22 November 2019 - Activities:
The unexpected outcomes of crime and justice.
Time TBC | Potbank Potters Room
Join a team of criminologists from Keele University to discover how matters of crime and justice touch people's lives in ways that can go unremarked on by society, government or the media.
Dr Hannah Wilkinson: Navigating No Man’s Land: Collateral consequences of leaving the military in the 21st century. There is now greater public recognition that many military veterans also end up in the criminal justice system. This session will discuss why this might be, and the costs for veterans their families, communities and societies.
Dr Sam Weston: The collateral consequences of being labelled as an ‘addict’.
Stoke Stories on Film: Telling Stories from the Community Using Documentary Films
12.20pm-1.20pm | Daniel Room, Spode Museum | 1 hour session
This is an opportunity for exploring the possibilities of collaborative film-based storytelling through a partnership between the Stoke-on-Trent community and staff and students from Keele's Media programme involved in documentary film production.
An insight into life as a naturalist
1.30pm-2.30pm | Daniel Room, Spode Museum | 1 hour session | Register on arrival
With James Rogerson, photographer.
An insight into life as a naturalist with photographer James Rogerson. Focusing on the jungles of Central India, its wildlife, the people who share it and capturing it on camera.
Intriguing tales of animal encounters, beautiful images and an honest account of how tiger tourism operates in India’s National Parks.
All Ages
DUST Rising
2pm-3pm (relaxed discussion) | Meadows Warehouse
A small display of artwork created as part of DR19 by DUST Rising an ambitious visual arts project in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The exhibition will provide a space to discuss and consider ‘curious’ spaces for artwork in heritage sites such as Spode Works and DUST Rising 2020.
All ages.
IT Clouds above the Himalayas
2.40pm-3.40pm | Daniel Room, Spode Museum | 1 hour session
With Corin Hardcastle, Yolmo Connect. In the challenging mountainous and materially-poor country of Nepal is it really possible to deliver the introduction of cloud-based administration software into schools where paper-based ledgers are presently the norm? There is a strong will to develop their current paper-based ledger systems, but will the IT infrastructure make it possible?
Ages: 18+
Ageing is Everyone’s Business
10.15am-12.15pm | Daniel Room, Spode Museum | 2 hour session | Register on arrival
Join the Beth Johnson Foundation to explore and better understand peoples' experiences of changing through ageing via storytelling.
Superbugs and where to find them
10.15am-11.15am | Potbank Potters Room | 1 hour session
What are microorganisms? Which diseases have killed the most people throughout history? Bacteria, viruses, fungi and some diseases they cause. What are antibiotics? What do bacteria look like and how do they reproduce? What is bacterial resistance to antibiotics? Why you should complete a course of antibiotics?
Places at the Table
Sessions at 2pm, 2:30pm, 3pm and 3.30pm | Meadows Warehouse | Duration 20 minutes
Join B arts to think about what it is about food that prompts us to tell stories? What sort of stories do people tell while cooking or eating together? Take part in a food making workshop with the aim of sharing and telling stories.
All ages.
Lions of Etruria
11am-1pm | Spode Museum | Drop-in
The ancient Etruscans were the first kings of Rome, after that there were Emperors. They left a Great Heritage of ideas, innovation and artefacts. They inspired Josiah Wedgwood. Join Robert of Etruria to make small lions out of clay and find out about the Etruscans, the Lions of Etruria and the link between the ancient, the industrial revolution and today.
All ages.
Destination Stoke
1pm workshop | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Festival Stoke.
What does the town of Stoke have that would attract people from outside the city to come and visit? What hidden gems does Stoke have that the town could make more of? What could we have, what is missing, that would attract more people? Pop by to the Destination Stoke stand throughout the day to contribute and find out more or take part in the workshop at 1pm.
Creative Negotiation Skills - Breaking the Zero-Sum Game and creating a Win-Win Result!
1pm-3pm | Potbank Potters Room | 2 hour session | Register on arrival
With Yaar Dagan Peretz – Lawyer, Teacher, Lecturer and PhD researcher
Imagine the last time you've been in any type of conflict. It can be a disagreement with a family member, a dispute with your teacher, an argument with your boss, a fight with your best friend or a biff with someone on the street. Now, think about the result. Did you reach an understanding? Did you go home feeling like a "winner"? or like a "loser"? This workshop is designed to help you find creative solutions that can benefit all sides of the conflict. We will explore practical methods of conflict resolution, using Game Theory and other psychological perspectives that will help you negotiate a "better deal", whether it is your salary, homework or curfew hours.
Ages: 12+
Up Men Living Library
2pm-4pm | Potbank Bar area | Drop-in
If you were a book what would your title be? We are surrounded by living, breathing encyclopaedias - books that enlighten, surprise, challenge and offer support. The Up Men invites men to bring themselves in human book form, slot alongside other human books and be part of this Living Library. Members of the public will be invited to sit with you, ask you questions and listen to your story. There are ground rules to keep us on course and to keep us feeling safe. Your lived experience is fascinating. And with it you can change the world - or someone else's.
To take part or request more information, send an email to info@restoke.org.uk. www.upmen.co.uk.
Ages: 18+ (under 18s accompanied by adult)
DUST Rising
All Day (plus relaxed discussion 2pm-3pm) | Meadows Warehouse
A small display of artwork created as part of DR19 by DUST Rising an ambitious visual arts project in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The exhibition will provide a space to discuss and consider ‘curious’ spaces for artwork in heritage sites such as Spode Works and DUST Rising 2020.
All ages.
Love, Remitted
All day | Potbank Atrium | Drop-in
Here, in the West Midlands, people hear about the challenges posed by migration and the potential exploitation of migrants. The wider public see little of the economic, social and cultural benefits migrants’ remitted earnings provide to their communities. This exhibition shows how Filipino migrants transform lives within their global networks of care, especially by sending money, goods and love to family in the Philippines. Using personal stories, the exhibition demonstrates why migration is one of the UK’s most significant contributions to global development.
Unruly Minds
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
An artistic and ethnographic reading of the evolution of mental health care in Flanders (Belgium).
Through ethnographic vignettes from Lisa Dikomitis's fieldwork and Martine Vandevelde’s art installations they explore the ‘unruly minds’ of those women who were living or working in Menen’s psychiatric hospital. How were mental health problems and hospital treatment perceived by those who provide care and those at the receiving end? We examine changes in the perception of suffering and women’s sensitivity to it through the evolution of one Flemish psychiatric hospital—from a ‘total institution’ at the time of the nuns to an institution that is about to ‘de-institutionalise’ itself.
All ages
Absent Tribe - Echoes of Spode
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Keith Brymer-Jones and Centrespace Gallery.
Every piece of pottery ware made in Stoke has been touched by about 15 pairs of hands. In its prime, this site employed over 1000 people. Imagine all those hands, all that history. Keith Brymer-Jones handmade 1100 beakers, one for every one of the workforce when the site was at its busiest, and a smaller one for every child working on the site. He remembered their hands as his shaped the beaker that holds their memory.
All ages.
Society of Staffordshire Artists
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
The Society of Staffordshire Artists are a growing group of professional and amateur artists, working both individually and together to experience the personal joys of the creative arts. Visit their latest exhibition ‘Two for One’ at the Spode Museum.
Filipino Island Culture
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop in
How do people in a remote, rural area of the Philippines lead their everyday lives? This exhibition will bring unique pictures from everyday island life in the Philippines. With Dr Lisa Dikomitis, Social anthropologist.
All ages
CLOCK: Community Legal Needs in Stoke on Trent
10am-12pm | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
Are you aware of your rights, how to access them, and the public duties to assist? Join Dr Jane Kirshnadas, Senior Lecturer in Law to walk in the shoes/ identify with persons with legal needs and find out how raising the profile of access will help to reduce deprivation and marginalisation in Stoke-on-Trent.
Older children and adults.
Counselling Collage
10am-1pm | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Dr Lois de Cruz, Lecturer in Counselling, Keele University
Come and create a colourful collage to help us find out what people think about counselling and its purpose. This will be a fun, hands-on event with lots of cutting and pasting.
Ages: 13+
Geopoetics Community Walk
11am-12pm | Meet Potbank Entrance | 30 minute walk plus 30 minutes group activity
Creative Walking Workshop with Dr Ceri Morgan & Nicola Winstanley
Socially Engaged Artist Nicola Winstanley and Geopoetics specialist Dr Ceri Morgan of Keele University will share the exploratory walking techniques they use to creatively connect with place, including writing, collecting and wild and urban curating. Nicola and Ceri will describe how these personal explorations spark creativity by allowing them to feel and think about the new things they experience, and to experience familiar things in new ways. Following this introduction, Nicola and Ceri will lead a creative walk around the Spode site, incorporating sketching, surface rubbing, writing, and collecting and arranging found objects. We’ll then spend some time sharing what we’ve done and put some of the materials together into a temporary exhibition for the visitors of Stoking Curiosity.
Accessibility:
The walk will last approximately 30 minutes (including dwelling time along the way). The walk will be entirely on paved, level ground, which will be accessible for wheelchair users and could be adapted for people with limited mobility. Please remember to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather. If you would like to take part in the workshop but are concerned about access, please get in touch and we'll do what we can to make sure you can get the most out of the session.
Art Workshop
11am-2pm | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join DUST Rising to ‘Have a go’ at creating colour ‘DUST Painting’ (mimicking ceramic pigment) using ‘sprinkle and splash’ with dampened paper and wet and dry brushes!
All ages.
Musical Instrument Journeys
11am-4pm | Potbank Main Atrium | Drop-in
Come along and find out more about our Instrumental Journeys project raising awareness of music-making opportunities for all, young and old, and gathering donations of musical instruments for our partners. If you have a musical instrument in the attic or behind the sofa gathering dust, why not think about donating it so that someone else can make good use of it? We are working in co-operation with the local music services (Stoke City Music Service and Entrust Music Service, Staffordshire) and the New Vic Borderlines so your instrument might go to a local child, a refugee music group or even appear on stage! You can also see more about the work of our partner organisation Music Fund, who provide access to music for children and young people in places of conflict around the world.
All ages.
Into the Wild
1pm-3pm | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join a Staffordshire Wildlife, Wildchild Officer for bushcraft activities, owl pellet dissection, make snails out of conkers, feely box nature sensory discovery, mud painting art on fence and paper plate art like Spode with wildlife focus, making clay hedgehogs and finding out about urban wildlife.
All ages.
Destination Stoke
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Festival Stoke.
What does the town of Stoke have that would attract people from outside the city to come and visit? What hidden gems does Stoke have that the town could make more of? What could we have, what is missing, that would attract more people? Pop by to the Destination Stoke stand throughout the day to contribute and find out more or take part in the workshop at 1pm.
Co-production
All day | Meadows Building | Drop-in
With Urban Wilderness
Take part in an interactive installation to explore placemaking using wood/ cardboard/ fabrics to construct a child-led space. Urban Wilderness are creating new narratives linking youth led placemaking projects, co-creative festivals and digital stories with wellbeing, belonging and community cohesion.
Ages: All
An insight into life as a naturalist
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
With James Rogerson, photographer.
An insight into life as a naturalist with photographer James Rogerson.
Along with his talk on 1.30pm (Friday 22nd), James will also be available on his stand to share stories of his experiences in the jungle, capturing its wildlife and the people who share it on camera.
All Ages
A Curiously Long Adventure Story...
All day | Potbank Main Atrium
With Peter Hooper, Active Writing Limited and Cox Bank Publishing
What inspires you to be active and outdoors? On one single and very long sheet of paper, a very curious adventure story will emerge, written and/or drawn by visitors to Stoking Curiosity. The story will be turned into an online publication and will be shared with participants post festival. Come along and add your curious contribution…
All ages.
IT Clouds above the Himalayas
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
With Corin Hardcastle, Yolmo Connect. In the challenging mountainous and materially-poor country of Nepal is it really possible to deliver the introduction of cloud-based administration software into schools where paper-based ledgers are presently the norm? There is a strong will to develop their current paper-based ledger systems, but will the IT infrastructure make it possible?
The art and science of making artificial legs
All Day | Potbank Training Room | Drop-in
With Rajeev Singha, at doctor from Haywood Hospital
About 15,000 amputations are done in the UK and about 60,000 people need artificial limbs, yet not many people have met or seen anyone with an artificial limb. The materials and processes to make the limbs and the technology behind them has been remarkable. Visit the stand to see and touch a range of artificial legs. See how artificial legs are made and have a go at wrapping plaster to make a model.
GROWing Together – Bless your Cotton Socks!
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Grow North Staffs. Take part in a colourful tie dye workshop to explore food waste, plastic waste and recycling. Take home your own piece of tie dyed work or bring along your own tshirt or fabric bag to transform.
How Creativity can Revive a Place
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
Join YMCA North Staffordshire for a hands-on activity where you will think about how creativity can play a part in reviving places and discuss your ideas for future spaces in the City. With a focus on the recent #ourfrontdoor project.
All ages.
Tackling Stigma: Insights from a Tropical Disease
All day | Potbank Main Atrium | Drop-in
Sometimes described as a "flesh-eating infection", cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a severely stigmatising neglected tropical disease. A team of anthropologists and biologists from Keele University have recently started a major international research project (ECLIPSE) to understand the problems faced by people living with this disease and to develop ways of reducing stigma. The ECLIPSE team is working in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Learn more about CL and the ECLIPSE project through photographs, a chance to look down the microscope and informal discussion with the team. ECLIPSE is funded by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).Twitter: @ECLIPSE_Keele
Older children and adults.
Blankets: An exploration of time, crochet and care
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
The project 'Blankets' provides a novel way of thinking about time and care through the craft of crochet. See an exhibition of blankets created by Professor Clare Holdsworth along with her photo journal of the project. Clare's current research focuses on the ‘Social Life of Busyness in an Age of De-acceleration’. You can also have a go at crochet between 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.
All ages.
Lego Community
ALL DAY | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
Join Higher Horizons+ to build your community out of Lego. An activity to encourage conversations about Keele and Staffordshire Universities being an important part of our communities.
Your Community – Flash Fiction!
ALL DAY | Potbank Atrium / Meadows Room | Drop-in
Join Higher Horizons+ to write flash fiction about togetherness and hidden treasures of Stoke-on-Trent. At the end of the festival, three of the best pieces will be chosen to be published on the Higher Horizons Twitter page, and the selected writers will win a prize!
Stardome
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in sessions
Within the 360 degree immersive planetarium, visitors will explore the size and scale of the universe and the objects within it; ranging from galaxies and stars to planets and moons. The possibility of extraterrestrial life will also be addressed via the search for exoplanets.
All ages.
What can ice tell us about the world?
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join Keele University's School of Geography, Geology and the Environment to think about climate change through a display of thousands year old ice cores. You can also try on some Antarctic kit!
All ages.
The Repository of Curiosities
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join Stephen Seabridge Poet Laureate for Stoke-on-Trent and artist Tom Addis from Entrepreneurs Network at The Repository of Curiosities. Share your curiosities and turn them into hieroglyphs / icons / emojis to deposit in the Repository.
All ages.
The Playground of Illusions ™
All day | Across the site | Drop-in
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, don’t be shy. Come on in to the Playground of Illusions… a mind-bending extravaganza which will make you question the very nature of reality and truth. Seeing is believing, or so they say. But the normal rules don’t apply in the topsy turvy world of the Playground, where your every sense will be bamboozled and played with. Fully interactive, the Playground toys are a delight of hands on experience and discovery. There are things to make your eyes go wibbly and your ears go wobbly; your senses will go silly and flat hands will feel curvy. There’s levers to pull and knobs to push, wheels to turn and intriguing bits and bobs to look at. With the Travelling Light Circus.
Spode Museum Heritage Centre
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
Spode was one of the most important factories from the Industrial Revolution and the birthplace of bone china. The Heritage Centre is located at the former Spode factory site and visitors can learn about the history of the factory, see displays of fine ceramics and archival films, watch demonstrations of transfer printing, hand painting and raised paste gilding; visit the world famous Blue Room, enjoy browsing around the large shopping area and relax with tea and cake in the Blue Willow Tea Room at the end of the visit.
A Window to Space
All day | Outside Potbank | Drop-in
Join Jacco van Loon from Keele University Observatory to get curious about our place in the Universe and how space affects us plus sun-gazing through a telescope weather-permitting!
Note: this activity will take place in the Meadows Warehouse if poor weather.
All ages.
Adult Learning – Give it a go!
All day | Potbank Training Room | Drop-in
Find out more about the Adult & Community Learning provision and the wider Employment and Skills Division. Talk about barriers to learning you may have and the courses on offer to help identify any gaps.
Saturday 23 November 2019 - Activities:
CLOCK: Community Legal Needs in Stoke on Trent
Are you aware of your rights, how to access them, and the public duties to assist? Join Dr Jane Kirshnadas, Senior Lecturer in Law to walk in the shoes/ identify with persons with legal needs and find out how raising the profile of access will help to reduce deprivation and marginalisation in Stoke-on-Trent.
Older children and adults.
Peer Effects and Race in Education
10.20am-10.50am | Potbank Potters Room | Register on arrival
Shiva Sikdar, Keele Business School
The current education system can amplify inequality within society. Disadvantaged groups face significant financial constraints. Financing education is becoming prohibitively costly. Current costs are likely to dissuade individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds from entering university. If a section of society is denied education, they will be underrepresented in jobs later on. This talk and following discussion give an opportunity to discuss issues of discrimination, peer effects and inequality and what policies can be formulated to address these problems.
Ages: 13+
When did you last use your Public Library?
11.30am-12.15pm | Spode Museum, Daniel Room | 45 minute session
Join Martin Brown from Staffordshire University for a topical, informative, reflective session to raise the profile of public libraries in the Potteries and stimulate discussion around the value and future of libraries. A focus on the surprising things available at public libraries, and the potential for further evolution. A must if you are passionate or have an interest in libraries.
Ages 13+
Staging Time: An exploration of prison history through participatory performing arts
12.10pm-1.10pm | Potbank Potters Room | 1 hour duration
With Saul Hewish, Artistic Director, Rideout (Creative Arts for Rehabilitation) and Sarah Page, Staffordshire University.
How can academics and artists work together to create high quality participatory arts projects with marginalised populations? Find out about Rideout’s arts residencies at HMP Stafford in partnership with the University of Warwick and Staffordshire University.
Ages: 13+
The unexpected outcomes of crime and justice.
Join a team of criminologists from Keele University to discover how matters of crime and justice touch people's lives in ways that can go unremarked on by society, government or the media.
Nicola Collett - The lifelong impact of obtaining a criminal record in youth. Over eleven million UK citizens have criminal records, many of which were obtained aged 25 or under. Are we a nation of criminals or just excessively criminalised?
Dr Steph Alger - 'Our eyes don't deceive us? Collateral consequences of relying on eyewitness evidence to identify perpetrators. We often assume that eyewitness evidence is the gold standard of evidence - if a suspect proclaims their innocence, we might be tempted to say - 'yes, but several people saw you do it’. But how reliable is eyewitness evidence? Can we always believe our own eyes?
DUST Rising
2pm-3pm | Meadows Warehouse
A small display of artwork created as part of DR19 by DUST Rising an ambitious visual arts project in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The exhibition will provide a space to discuss and consider ‘curious’ spaces for artwork in heritage sites such as Spode Works and DUST Rising 2020.
All ages.
Shot of Science!
11.30pm-4pm | Potbank Bar | Drop-in
How the world works! How science and technology affect people’s lives. How to bring non-scientists into the scientific conversation. Join scientists from the Shot of Science! team in our interactive café-style science talks.
All Welcome but recommend 13+. No booking required.
All Flesh Is Grass? - an exploration of how life is powered
Join Tony Jones for a short discussion exploring how life is powered. Bio-energetics and the flow of energy through chains of nutrition are of the most fundamental importance to the maintenance, continuance and development of life. This a very active area in scientific research, and a widespread understanding of the issues will be of importance to humanity's continuing existence.
The beauty from the ordinary: preserving the collective memory of industrial ceramics skills.
Ceramics has been used as a catalyst for regeneration within Stoke-on-Trent.The the Great Pottery Throwdown and Clay College have played a major contribution. We have also seen the reuse of industrial buildings. However, the authentic heritage of Stoke-on-Trent ceramics skills is based within industrial ceramics, not studio ceramics, and with the post-industrial challenges that the industry has faced there is in danger of losing these skills from the collective consciousness. This discussion will ask, should we preserve these industrial ceramics skills, who should be responsible for this, how can we do it and what are the challenges. Led by Vicki McGarvey.
The project 'Blankets' provides a novel way of thinking about time and care through the craft of crochet. See an exhibition of blankets created by Professor Clare Holdsworth along with her photo journal of the project. Clare's current research focuses on the ‘Social Life of Busyness in an Age of De-acceleration’. You can also have a go at crochet between 10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm.
All ages.
Stoke Sings
10.30am-12.30pm | ACAVA Studios | 2 hour session
Stoke Sings welcome you to join them in a community singing workshop where you can also share ideas about the role of songs and singing in the development of community cohesion, belonging, place and wellbeing. Songs will include New Light (Stoke), the new Stoke-on-Trent anthem by Stephen Seabridge (Stoke Poet Laureate) and Greg Stephens. When we have learnt the songs we will flashmob them round Spode! All ages.
11am-12pm | Potbank Potters Room | 1 hour session | Register on arrival
What are microorganisms? Which diseases have killed the most people throughout history? Bacteria, viruses, fungi and some diseases they cause. What are antibiotics? What do bacteria look like and how do they reproduce? What is bacterial resistance to antibiotics? Why you should complete a course of antibiotics?
11+ - adult.
Places at the Table
Sessions at 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30 | Meadows Warehouse | Potbank Training Room | Duration 20 minutes
Join B arts to think about what it is about food that prompts us to tell stories? What sort of stories do people tell while cooking or eating together? Take part in a food making workshop with the aim of sharing and telling stories.
All ages.
Lions of Etruria
11am-1pm | Spode Museum | drop-in
The ancient Etruscans were the first kings of Rome, after that there were Emperors. They left a Great Heritage of ideas, innovation and artefacts. They inspired Josiah Wedgwood. Join Robert of Etruria to make small lions out of clay and find out about the Etruscans, the Lions of Etruria and the link between the ancient, the industrial revolution and today.
All ages.
To Tolerate or not to Tolerate, that is the question?
12.30pm-2.30pm | Spode Museum, Daniel Room | 2 hour session | Places allocated first come, first served on the day
Join Asli Kandemir, Teaching Fellow in Sociology and Education for a two part session (note you can attend both parts and either/or).
12.30pm - PART 1: Mini-lecture/presentation to understand tolerance from a critical point of view. Let's deconstruct what we know about tolerance! Is it a fundamental British value? What is a fundamental British value? Is tolerance a moral value? Or is it just a political stick at the top of our heads? It is time for us to critique our knowledge about tolerance and how it is practised in our multicultural neighbourhoods or local communities or society.
SHORT BREAK
1.30pm - PART 2: Collective workshop activities - drawing for meaning of 'home', collage-making for definitions of Britishness and FBVs, and discussions about friendship and discussions/role-playing for tolerance.
Ages 13+ - adult
Up Men Improv Comedy
1pm-3.30pm | ACAVA Studios | 2.5 hour session
With ReStoke and the Up Men
With ReStoke and the Up Men. A workshop in comedy and improvisation, inspired by research around comedy improv as a tool for reducing social anxiety. About your workshop leader: Tom Roden is one half of dance-comedy duo New Art Club, and has been bringing his unique hilarity to the stage since 1994. Tom has created, directed and performed internationally - on stages, at festivals and on television. During the workshop Tom will guide us through spoken word and movement exercises that allow ourselves to be open, honest, silly and courageous. We will look at how comedy can help us speak to ourselves and others with honesty, clarity and passion. We will consider the mental health benefits of devising and performing comedy and building confidence by taking a brave leap outside our comfort zones - you’ll be in safe hands and good company! Ready to realise your comic potential? Sign up for the workshop here: www.upmen.co.uk. This workshop suitable for anyone aged 16+. No experience needed.
Creative Negotiation Skills - Breaking the Zero-Sum Game and creating a Win-Win Result!
Time TBC | Venue TBC
With Yaar Dagan Peretz – Lawyer, Teacher, Lecturer and PhD researcher
Imagine the last time you've been in any type of conflict. It can be a disagreement with a family member, a dispute with your teacher, an argument with your boss, a fight with your best friend or a biff with someone on the street. Now, think about the result. Did you reach an understanding? Did you go home feeling like a "winner"? or like a "loser"? This workshop is designed to help you find creative solutions that can benefit all sides of the conflict. We will explore practical methods of conflict resolution, using Game Theory and other psychological perspectives that will help you negotiate a "better deal", whether it is your salary, homework or curfew hours.
Ages: Adult.
Destination Stoke
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Festival Stoke.
What does the town of Stoke have that would attract people from outside the city to come and visit? What hidden gems does Stoke have that the town could make more of? What could we have, what is missing, that would attract more people? Pop by to the Destination Stoke stand throughout the day to contribute and find out more or take part in the workshop.
DUST Rising
All day (plus relaxed discussion 2pm-3pm) | Meadows Warehouse
A small display of artwork created as part of DR19 by DUST Rising an ambitious visual arts project in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The exhibition will provide a space to discuss and consider ‘curious’ spaces for artwork in heritage sites such as Spode Works and DUST Rising 2020.
All ages.
Love, Remitted
All day | Potbak Atrium | Drop-in
Here, in the West Midlands, people hear about the challenges posed by migration and the potential exploitation of migrants. The wider public see little of the economic, social and cultural benefits migrants’ remitted earnings provide to their communities. This exhibition shows how Filipino migrants transform lives within their global networks of care, especially by sending money, goods and love to family in the Philippines. Using personal stories, the exhibition demonstrates why migration is one of the UK’s most significant contributions to global development.
Ages: 13+ - adult
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
An artistic and ethnographic reading of the evolution of mental health care in Flanders (Belgium).
Through ethnographic vignettes from Lisa Dikomitis's fieldwork and Martine Vandevelde’s art installations they explore the ‘unruly minds’ of those women who were living or working in Menen’s psychiatric hospital. How were mental health problems and hospital treatment perceived by those who provide care and those at the receiving end? We examine changes in the perception of suffering and women’s sensitivity to it through the evolution of one Flemish psychiatric hospital—from a ‘total institution’ at the time of the nuns to an institution that is about to ‘de-institutionalise’ itself.
All ages
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Keith Brymer-Jones and Centrespace Gallery.
Every piece of pottery ware made in Stoke has been touched by about 15 pairs of hands. In its prime, this site employed over 1000 people. Imagine all those hands, all that history. Keith Brymer-Jones handmade 1100 beakers, one for every one of the workforce when the site was at its busiest, and a smaller one for every child working on the site. He remembered their hands as his shaped the beaker that holds their memory.
All ages.
All day | Spode Musuem | Drop-in
The Society of Staffordshire Artists are a growing group of professional and amateur artists, working both individually and together to experience the personal joys of the creative arts. Visit their latest exhibition ‘Two for One’ at the Spode Museum.
Counselling Collage
10am-1pm | Potbak Meadows Room | Drop-in
Come and create a colourful collage to help us find out what people think about counselling and its purpose. This will be a fun, hands-on event with lots of cutting and pasting.
Ages: 13+.
What is creativity?
10am-1pm | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
Meet Sarah Rose, Lecturer in Psychology and Child Development to take part in hands on activities demonstrating different ways that psychologists define and measure creativity. There will be a space for people to creatively share their own ideas about what creativity is using art materials.
All ages.
Geopoetics Community Walk
11am-12pm | Meet Potbank Entrance | 30 minute walk plus 30 minutes group activity
Creative Walking Workshop with Dr Ceri Morgan & Nicola Winstanley
Socially Engaged Artist Nicola Winstanley and Geopoetics specialist Dr Ceri Morgan of Keele University will share the exploratory walking techniques they use to creatively connect with place, including writing, collecting and wild and urban curating. Nicola and Ceri will describe how these personal explorations spark creativity by allowing them to feel and think about the new things they experience, and to experience familiar things in new ways. Following this introduction, Nicola and Ceri will lead a creative walk around the Spode site, incorporating sketching, surface rubbing, writing, and collecting and arranging found objects. We’ll then spend some time sharing what we’ve done and put some of the materials together into a temporary exhibition for the visitors of Stoking Curiosity.
Accessibility:
The walk will last approximately 30 minutes (including dwelling time along the way). The walk will be entirely on paved, level ground, which will be accessible for wheelchair users and could be adapted for people with limited mobility. Please remember to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather. If you would like to take part in the workshop but are concerned about access, please get in touch and we'll do what we can to make sure you can get the most out of the session.
Art Workshop
11am-2pm | Meadows Building | Drop-in
Join DUST Rising to ‘Have a go’ at creating colour ‘DUST Painting’ (mimicking ceramic pigment) using ‘sprinkle and splash’ with dampened paper and wet and dry brushes!
All ages.
The Curiosity of the Dog at The Festival
Join artist MsDMeanar and Percy the dog for a curious exploration of the Spode site. You will be encouraged observe how Percy takes on the site, noticing what he finds curious and where he wants to explore spending time at some of the places he decides are interesting. You will document the experience through words, drawings and actions and create a very simple and responsive collaborative piece of work.
All ages
Into the Wild
1pm-3pm | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join a Staffordshire Wildlife, Wildchild Officer for bushcraft activities, owl pellet dissection, make snails out of conkers, feely box nature sensory discovery, mud painting art on fence and paper plate art like Spode with wildlife focus, making clay hedgehogs and finding out about urban wildlife.
All ages.
Origins, evolution and importance of energy in life
1pm-4pm | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
Join Gavin McStay, Associate Professor at Staffordshire University to explore his curiosity about the way in which cells live and die. In an activity that involves slime, yeast, balloons and water to explore mitochondria and how this ‘powerhouse cell’ drives involves the origins of life, evolution, and medicine.
All ages.
Origins
All day | Potbank, Meadows Factory and Spode Museum | Roving performance and interactive stand (Potbank Meadows Room)
‘Where are you from’ is a common question but some people might get asked this more often than others – it’s a question more likely to spring up when in the company of people who might be perceived as ‘Other’. Think of your origins, of the complexity of human origins and how we as humans have unconscious bias. Throughout the day you will encounter scenarios which will enable you to recognise and understand unconscious bias.
All ages.
Co-production – Using Art to Reconnect Children to Nature
All day | Meadows Building | Drop-in
With Urban Wilderness.
Take part in an interactive installation to explore placemaking using a range of construction materials (wood / cardboard / fabrics) to construct a child-led space.
Ages: General. No booking required
An insight into life as a naturalist
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
An insight into life as a naturalist with photographer James Rogerson. Along with his presentation on 22 November James will also be available on his stand to share stories of his experiences in the jungle, capturing its wildlife and the people who share it on camera.
All Ages
A Curiously Long Adventure Story...
All day | Potbank | Drop-in
With Peter Hooper, Active Writing Limited and Cox Bank Publishing
What inspires you to be active and outdoors? On one single and very long sheet of paper, a very curious adventure story will emerge, written and/or drawn by visitors to Stoking Curiosity. The story will be turned into an online publication and will be shared with participants post festival. Come along and add your curious contribution…
All ages.
Destination Stoke
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Festival Stoke.
What does the town of Stoke have that would attract people from outside the city to come and visit? What hidden gems does Stoke have that the town could make more of? What could we have, what is missing, that would attract more people? Pop by to the Destination Stoke stand throughout the day to contribute and find out more or take part in the workshop at 1pm.
The art and science of making artificial legs
All day | Potbank Training Room | Drop-in
With Rajeev Singha, a doctor from Haywood Hospital
About 15,000 amputations are done in the UK and about 60,000 people need artificial limbs yet not many people have met or seen anyone with an artificial limb. The materials and processes to make the limbs and the technology behind them has been remarkable. Visit the stand to see and touch a range of artificial legs. See how artificial legs are made and have a go at wrapping plaster to make a model.
GROWing Together – Bless your Cotton Socks!
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
With Grow North Staffs. Take part in a colourful tie dye workshop to explore food waste, plastic waste and recycling. Take home your own piece of tie dyed work or bring along your own tshirt or fabric bag to transform.
All ages
Tackling Stigma: Insights from a Tropical Disease
All day | Potbank Main Atrium | Drop-in
Sometimes described as a "flesh-eating infection", cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a severely stigmatising neglected tropical disease. A team of anthropologists and biologists from Keele University have recently started a major international research project (ECLIPSE) to understand the problems faced by people living with this disease and to develop ways of reducing stigma. The ECLIPSE team is working in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Learn more about CL and the ECLIPSE project through photographs, a chance to look down the microscope and informal discussion with the team. ECLIPSE is funded by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Twitter: @ECLIPSE_Keele
Older children and adults.
A Window to Space
All Day | Outside (note: this activity will take place in the Meadows Warehouse if poor weather) | Drop-in
Join Jacco van Loon from Keele University Observatory to get curious about our place in the Universe and how space affects us plus sun-gazing through a telescope weather-permitting!
All ages.
The project 'Blankets' provides a novel way of thinking about time and care through the craft of crochet. See an exhibition of blankets created by Professor Clare Holdsworth along with her photo journal of the project. Clare's current research focuses on the ‘Social Life of Busyness in an Age of De-acceleration’. You can also have a go at crochet between 10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm.
All ages.
Lego Community
All day | Potbank Meadows Room | Drop-in
Join Higher Horizons+ to build your community out of Lego. An activity to encourage conversations about Keele and Staffordshire Universities being an important part of our communities.
Your Community – Flash Fiction!
All day | Potbank Training Room | Drop-in
Join Higher Horizons+ to write flash fiction about togetherness and hidden treasures of Stoke-on-Trent. At the end of the festival, three of the best pieces will be chosen to be published on the Higher Horizons Twitter page, and the selected writers will win a prize!
IT Clouds above the Himalayas
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
With Corin Hardcastle, Yolmo Connect. In the challenging mountainous and materially-poor country of Nepal is it really possible to deliver the introduction of cloud-based administration software into schools where paper-based ledgers are presently the norm? There is a strong will to develop their current paper-based ledger systems, but will the IT infrastructure make it possible?
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join Keele University's School of Geography, Geology and the Environment to think about climate change through a display of thousands year old ice cores. You can also try on some Antarctic kit!
All ages.
All day | Meadows Warehouse | Drop-in
Join Stephen Seabridge Poet Laureate for Stoke-on-Trent and artist Tom Addis from Entrepreneurs Network at The Repository of Curiosities. Share your curiosities and turn them into hieroglyphs / icons /emojis to deposit in the Repository.
All ages.
All day | Across the site | Drop-in
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, don’t be shy. Come on in to the Playground of Illusions… a mind-bending extravaganza which will make you question the very nature of reality and truth. Seeing is believing, or so they say. But the normal rules don’t apply in the topsy turvy world of the Playground, where your every sense will be bamboozled and played with. Fully interactive, the Playground toys are a delight of hands on experience and discovery. There are things to make your eyes go wibbly and your ears go wobbly; your senses will go silly and flat hands will feel curvy. There’s levers to pull and knobs to push, wheels to turn and intriguing bits and bobs to look at. With the Travelling Light Circus.
Spode Museum Heritage Centre
All day | Spode Museum | Drop-in
Spode was one of the most important factories from the Industrial Revolution and the birthplace of bone china. The Heritage Centre is located at the former Spode factory site and visitors can learn about the history of the factory, see displays of fine ceramics and archival films, watch demonstrations of transfer printing, hand painting and raised paste gilding; visit the world famous Blue Room, enjoy browsing around the large shopping area and relax with tea and cake in the Blue Willow Tea Room at the end of the visit.