大象传媒

The new Wedgwood Museum opened to the public in Autumn 2008, now able to show one of the largest worldwide displays of 250 years of Wedgwood history.听

At a cost of almost 拢10 million, the new museum houses the entire Wedgwood collection under one roof for the first time.

To see images of some of the exhibits, click on the link below:-

With a new state-of-the-art digital reference library, research and education facilities it also provides a learning experience for all ages and abilities; and can ensure that everybody can enjoy the heritage of the Potteries.听
The Museum so impressed the cultural world it picked up the Best Museum of the Year 2009 prize (see story by clicking on the link in the top right hand corner of this page).

Original vases and the Slave Medallion

Amongst the displays will be two of the very first vases thrown on the opening day of the original Wedgwood Etruria factory (on the site of what is now Festival Park in Hanley) in 1769 by Josiah Wedgwood himself.

'Am I not a man and a brother?'

The Slave Medallion (pictured right), fashioned by Wedgwood in support of one of the cause he felt passionately about, the Abolition of Slavery Movement, is also housed in the museum.

The display should consist of: around 8,000 items from the ceramics collection; more than 75,000 manuscripts and items of correspondence; plus a fine art collection, including works by Stubbs, Reynolds, Romney and Singer Sargent.

拢100 million collection

The total value of the collection is estimated to be around 拢100 million.

All visitors will benefit from the broad range of amenities, including shopping facilities, restaurants and, of course, the existing Wedgwood Visitor Centre which is situated next door.
The museum expects to receive around 100,000 visitors a year.

A centre of learning

The educational facility will be available to formal classes, life-long learners and specialist ceramic groups.听 The new museum aims to be a centre of excellence and learning.

The Museum holds special events such as master classes, lectures, and family and community events. It will also be the home of the Friends of the Wedgwood Museum.

Although the museum sits within the grounds of the Wedgwood Pottery Company, in fact the 'Wedgwood Museum Trust' runs the museum - independently of the firm. The Trust has to raise money itself in order to keep the building and its facilities going.

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You can find out more by visiting the official website...