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100 years ago today on June 5, 1925, King George V: “The development of your town and industry enable me gladly to consent to the request that the title and status of city shall be conferred upon your county borough.” This is #SoT100 Centenary Day and the Inaugural Stoke-on-Trent Day.

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@markffisher.bsky.social ‘In this centenary year of (Arthur) Berry’s birth and three decades after his death, the @newvictheatre.bsky.social has dug out the first draft of his final play, spruced it up and given it a belated debut.’ @theresaheskins.bsky.social @fionawallace.bsky.social

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Crafted by Duchess China to honour the ‘made in Stoke-on-Trent’ backstamp, the charger plates were inspired by Cauldon Potteries design cues present on a magnificent service of civic pottery gifted to the city in 1929 to show the best of craftsmanship from the spiritual home of British ceramics.

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The centenary civic lunch in Stoke-on-Trent College’s award-winning Hammersley Restaurant will see a menu of dishes created and prepared by hospitality and catering learners served on locally made ceramic ware and limited edition fine bone china charger plates. #WorldCraftCity #SoT100

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In line with its published statement of intent, it’s wonderful to see the National Gallery promoting cultural engagement and the importance of people encountering art in unexpected locations. Galleries without walls. Masterpieces in the open air.

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Great to see Stoke-on-Trent is the first destination to host the unique National Gallery ArtOnYourDoorstep touring exhibition with life-size printed reproductions from the national collection installed in Bethesda Gardens in the city centre during this special centenary year. @jonrouse.bsky.social

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‘What has been created is a very special moment in time, the hundredth birthday of the city of Stoke-on-Trent. All the work produced has a real sense of belonging and reinforces my belief that there is outstanding talent and skill in our city.’

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Congratulations to our friends in Birmingham. As a designated World Craft City, it was good to write a Stoke-on-Trent letter of support for the Jewellery Quarter Trust. The West Midlands is fast becoming a national leader in championing craft as culture. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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On Stoke-on-Trent Day, we will reveal the names of the first three inspirational people who will feature on the #100Years100Faces mural. A storytelling artwork depicting people that exemplify the rich tapestry of talent, resilience & ingenuity that defines Staffordshire’s industrial beating heart.

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Pop yourselves over to ‘The Mother Town’ Burslem #StokeOnTrent to view a collaborative exhibition with @philshallcross.bsky.social - a body of work I call ‘SuperImpositions’ .. an ongoing creative adventure on the wall at www.barewall.co.uk/collections/... #Stoke100 #SoT100

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Uni of Staffordshire GradEx Creative Industries Degree Show is one of the hallmark cultural events in the calendar but this year was extra special with the addition of the #SoT100 Centenary Awards. The graduating students demonstrated why our World Craft City deserves to be a UNESCO Creative City.

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A round up of events taking place on the momentous occasion when city status was bestowed on Stoke-on-Trent: Civic Prayer Breakfast; 100th anniversary lunch; centenary-themed civc council meeting; 100 Years, 100 Faces mural announcement; People’s Parade & Party in the Park; Spirit of Stoke-on-Trent.

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Delighted that Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Cabinet agreed to support an application in collaboration with local partners to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network when the next round opens in late 2026.

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This Cultural Life - Abi Morgan, with the screenwriter and playwright talking about her creative influences. Reflecting on her time in Stoke-on-Trent when her parents worked with Peter Cheeseman at the Victoria Theatre: “There’s huge pride in the Potteries, huge spirit and guts.”

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Blue plaques hit the right note in recognising Stoke-on-Trent’s rich musical heritage linked particularly to dance and club culture. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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The People’s Parade on 7 June will form the centrepiece of Stoke-on-Trent’s city centenary celebrations. #SoT100 #PeoplesParade www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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The only thing you see You know it’s gonna be The Ace of Spades! Good to see the sun shone brightly on the unveiling of Lemmy’s statue in the Mother Town. #LemmyForever

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An honour to be able to join the Stoke-on-Trent City Council civic service to mark and celebrate the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day at Stoke Minster. A powerful #VEDay80 reminder and tribute to those who fought for the freedom we all enjoy today.

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Immensely talented Potteries-born sculptor, Andy Edwards: “It’s probably the most meaningful statue that I’ll ever do.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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@chrisbryant1962.bsky.social Parliamentary declaration that the creative economy’s capacity for transforming a former industrial area is something ‘Stoke-on-Trent is beautifully exemplifying in its crucible’ augurs well for our UNESCO Creative City aspirations. #WorldCraftCity #Future100

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Achieving @UNESCO #CreativeCity accreditation is not just a one year-only accolade. It offers unparalleled opportunities to capitalise on Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural assets and creative expertise to support economic development, jobs creation, social diversity and cohesion.

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Achieving @UNESCO #CreativeCity accreditation is not just a one year-only accolade. It offers unparalleled opportunities to capitalise on Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural assets and creative expertise to support economic development, jobs creation, social diversity and cohesion.

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The Knot Unites! #StaffordshireDay

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A reminder that #StaffordshireDay marks the anniversary of Josiah Wedgwood setting up his ground-breaking factory in Stoke-on-Trent in 1759. Sowing the seeds for the industrialisation of pottery, Wedgwood enabled Staffordshire’s industrial beating heart to become a World Craft City.

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How fitting that the hotel which was the inspiration for Bennett’s The Grand Babylon Hotel is to be adapted by @claybodytheatre.bsky.social @deborahmc.bsky.social in Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary year.

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A column that could well have been written by the Potteries literary genius himself. The Omlette Arnold Bennett having been on the menu The Savoy since it was first created in 1929 ‘stands as a reminder of the deep-seated connection between Bennett and hotel life, in and beyond his work.’

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Officially opened in 1975, the preserved Victorian pottery factory’s towering bottle oven-enclosed cobbled yard creates ‘an atmospheric time warp which has no equal’ and helps to tell the story of Stoke-on-Trent’s history-defining ceramics heritage ‘all wrapped up in one unique museum.’

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“There is no doubt that the museum is a magnet for people wanting to learn more about our internationally renowned ceramics industry.”

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With a nod to the county’s motto, ‘The Knot Unites’, the annual celebration of #StaffordshireDay is a wonderful opportunity to champion all that’s great about our county, people, places & culture.

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Important first steps, thank you @paulwilliams207.bsky.social

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Productive first meeting with the Chair of the UK Creative Cities Group - a forum for the 13 Creative Cities across the UK, to discuss Stoke-on-Trent’s ambitions to become a UNESCO Creative City and learn more about the application process.

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A curated collection of #SoT100 stories from around the Potteries. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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Love’s redeeming work is done. Easter Blessings 🙏

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Also good to see the theatre’s programme ‘will link in with the Stoke-on-Trent centenary celebrations, highlighting the contribution craft and culture has made to our heritage and continues as part of making our future.’ #SoT100 #WorldCraftCity #ArthurBerry100

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Brick by brick, in a city where making is a deeply-held part of our collective identity, the #SoT100 centenary logo is to be imaginatively recreated in 5,000 Lego pieces. Together we make the city centenary logo!

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Delighted to see @newvictheatre.bsky.social celebrate Stoke-on-Trent becoming a World Craft City: ‘For centuries the Potteries has been a hub for ceramics production. We’re all proud to be a part of that continuing tradition, and also of a wider tradition of craft and creativity that thrives here.’

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Huge congratulations to Prof Liz Barnes on her appointment by King Charles III as the new Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

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Having engaged with UNESCO UK, I’m writing a column about #Future100 prospectus commitment to build on World Craft City status to achieve ‘Stoke-on-Trent’s ambition of being designated an International Centre for Ceramics, and pursuing a medium-term plan to become a UNESCO Creative City.’

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Having engaged with UNESCO UK, I’m writing a column about #Future100 prospectus commitment to build on World Craft City status to achieve ‘Stoke-on-Trent’s ambition of being designated an International Centre for Ceramics, and pursuing a medium-term plan to become a UNESCO Creative City.’

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Feelings mutual! @AmbJapanUK is the master of soft power diplomacy and positive place promotion. ‘Tourism plays an important part in soft power as a public diplomacy tool that, alongside destination branding, aims to reinforce the image of a place to attract visitors.’

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Pleased to have been invited to write an endorsement letter supporting Birmingham’s application to become a designated World Craft City in recognition of its historic Jewellery Quarter’s renown as a global destination championing craft education and promoting authentic cultural tourism.

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From Stoke-on-Trent - a World Craft City for Ceramics, best wishes to our craft friends in Birmingham as they welcome the WCC Jurors to evaluate The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, Birmingham City University & Birmingham City Council’s bid to become a designated World Craft City for Jewellery.

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If you get the opportunity then pop yourself into The Glosthouse in #StokeOnTrent for a collaborative exhibition with @philshallcross.bsky.social a body of work I call ‘SuperImpositions.' Somewhere in the planning I’d like to unite them with the Original drawings: www.barewall.co.uk/products/ips...

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Stoke Minster is an unrivalled heritage tourism asset. ‘Encouraging visitors is one of the simplest ways in which the use of places of worship can be extended, and if done well it can have minimal impact on the character of the building or its use by the congregation.’

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#ChurchTourism is a mission opportunity!

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Unlocking the power of innovative storytelling can help to provide a deeper understanding of, and connection with Stoke Minster’s history, alongside offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of a site that enshrines the spiritual heritage of Stoke-on-Trent.

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The Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade re-imagines a bet made by the town’s mayor and the Duke of Sutherland in the 1880s. This year’s event will be the biggest yet to mark Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary. @urbanwildernesscic.bsky.social @islatelford.bsky.social

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With a supposed nod to Churchill: music, art, love what else are we fighting for! 📸Andrew Billington

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