Craftcore fires up city's first public ceramics studio

Derby’s first public-access ceramics studio has opened on Osnabruck Square, following a refurbishment of an empty shop unit assisted by funding from Derby City Council.

Craftcore is part of the Derby arts and culture charity Artcore, which has its community hub next door to the new unit. The workshop and studio space will be open to all, from local community members and emerging artists to creative professionals.

To create the studio, the unit has undergone extensive work including the installation of pottery equipment such as ceramic kilns, pottery wheels and specialist workshop tools. The electrics, lighting and heating have been upgraded, along with improvements to the flooring and waste disposal facilities. The studio has also been refurbished and decorated internally and externally to support its use as a functional ceramics workspace.

The business is one of ten so far to be awarded a grant from Derby City Council through the Vacant to Vibrant scheme, which is focused on bringing empty shop units in the Cathedral Quarter area back into use. This is funded by a pot of £500,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, via the East Midlands Combined Council Authority (EMCCA).  Craftcore received £56,000 towards its refurbishment costs through the scheme, and is the first to open.