Stoking: Add coal or other solid fuel; Encourage or incite; Consume a large quantity of food
 |
| Spode Bottle Kiln Pizza Oven V McGarvey cc |
I am attending the CTRLShift summit at the Potbank, Spode Works this week. The focus of the summit is
"to catalyse a network of change-making organisations, networks and independent practitioners, creating a movement for positive social, economic and environmental change. "
What better way to get stoked up for this event than to have a Community Night Walk followed by a hearty meal. Our experienced guide for the walk was artist and director of Hanley's Airspace Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent Anna Francis . A "Reclaim the Streets" style walk, the route took us around the street circumference of Spode, punctuated by human noticeboards, speakers representing local projects, that were given 2 minutes to provide an introduction. I was honored to be invited to be a human noticeboard outside the Minton Library, to give an overview of the Stoke and North Staffs Women's Network that I chair and our Bound by Clay Project, celebrating women's contribution to industrial ceramics. The characteristic Stoke drizzle was persistent throughout the walk but the distraction of the industrial sites and Stoke drenched gems, Falcon Pottery, Minton Library and Spode Rose Garden, as well as hearing about the innovative creative activities that are taking place within Stoke, made the weather a secondary distraction. It was, also, a great chance for the group to get an alternative view of the Stoke townscape.
 |
| Community Night Walk Noticeboards V McGarvey cc |
Those that participate in a Community Night Walk are encouraged to use it as a socialising and networking opportunity. This is a great way to thaw the social ice at an event such as this, especially when many are solo attendees like myself, and may feel a little diffident. After chatting to people on the walk and over warming food later at Spode, it is already apparent that this event has attracted a diverse group of individuals, representing a wide variety of initiatives and interests. I now feel stoked up for the workshops ahead. I anticipate a range of opinions on how to encourage community engagement, some of which I may agree with, some I may find challenging, but I expect progressive ideas will not be in short supply.