The Ken Stradling Collection at the Design Study Centre Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2018 Our purpose The Ken Stradling Collection is a charitable trust which exists to engage a wide range of audiences with design and creativity through the collection and its interpretation, by means of exhibitions, talks and outreach projects.

‘For some people, objects are a way of making life more rewarding, and among enthusiasts and collectors, Ken Stradling takes a special place .’ Alan Powers Chairman’s Statement I am very keen for the KSC to be known about by as many people as possible and I am glad to report again this year that we have collaborated with new people and organisations as well as continuing to work with those with whom we are building relationships. I was very pleased to be invited to include one of our most significant pieces, Spinsters Rock by Sam Haile, in a major exhibition of British studio pottery at the Fitzwilliam Gallery in Cambridge at the beginning of the year. Towards the end of the year, a highlight was the glass symposium held at the Design Study Centre in November, where Peter Layton, of London Glassblowing, and Tavs Jorgensen, of UWE, gave talks about their respective areas of glass and ceramics. The promotion of good design has always been an important aspect of my work and it is a privilege to be joined by such advocates as these. Throughout the year we have had visits from students from various creative disciplines. I continue to be impressed by the enthusiasm, openness and creative talent of these young people who visit the Study Centre to research and inform their work. I am delighted to also report that our loans to schools system is having a welcome positive impact on younger pupils who don’t have the chance to visit the KSC for logistical reasons. Much hard work is put into the running of the KSC and Study Centre and I would like to thank once again a whole host of people who help the KSC to thrive and develop – namely the Trustees, Patrons, Volunteers, Friends and staff for their invaluable support in making this lively, welcoming organisation a success. Introducing the Collection ‘The Ken Stradling Collection is a very personal one, assembled with exceptional insight and enthusiasm. It provides a unique overview of the evolution of British design history from the mid-20th century to the present day.’ Fiona MacCarthy The Ken Stradling Collection portrays one man’s engagement with design. In his pioneering work at the Guild of Applied Art, which he joined in 1948, Ken Stradling created a major centre for the sale and appreciation of the best of modern design and craft. Driven by his passion for well-made products, he built a successful and influential business widely recognised as a centre of excellence in the West of England. This same impulse has been the driving force behind the formation of his remarkable collection. Unusually for a collector Ken Stradling has not limited himself to one specialism; the breadth of his collecting encompasses studio ceramics, modern glass, metal work, furniture, artworks, graphics and industrial design. For this reason, the collection offers the opportunity to experience and handle a rich cross-section of British and European design from the second half of the 20th century. Deciding to share his collection as widely as possible, in 2006 Ken Stradling formed a Charitable Trust and through its home at 48 Park Row has enabled visitors to view it and enjoy exhibitions, talks and tours. A significant aspect of the collection is that visitors are encouraged to handle the objects within it. In addition to welcoming the general public, we continue to build links with local schools, colleges and universities, enabling students to carry out research and inform their own practice.

Exhibition poster designed by second-year ceramics students for their exhibition at the KSC Gallery. Public Engagement ‘Thanks again for making this fascinating and inspiring collection open for viewing. Very enjoyable.’ KSC visitor

Throughout his career at the Bristol Guild and, since 2007, as chairman of the Ken Stradling Collection Trust, Ken has continued his mission to bring outstanding design to Bristol – to inspire, educate and entertain. The KSC is home to a huge array of art, craft and design objects – and we aim to exhibit the best of these items to as many people as possible and in an interesting and engaging manner, developing themes to tell the stories behind the pieces. We welcome collaborations with other galleries and with artists and craftspeople, and have worked together with some inspiring people this year. We have maintained our free admission to exhibitions, as accessibility is very important to us. We do charge for events and tours as we have to balance accessibility with sustainability. Our first exhibition of 2018 was a celebration of Ken’s involvement in the design world for over 70 years, as he joined the Bristol Guild in 1948. The Ken Stradling Collection in 70 Objects was a mixed media show illustrating the wide range of objects in the collection. From a papier mâché cat to the Super Leggara chair by Gio Ponti. As Ken says: ‘I collect design. I am enormously interested in the man- made things around me.’ In February we were honoured to be invited to show one of our most significant ceramic pieces, Spinsters Rock by Sam Haile, as part of an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge - Things of Beauty Growing: British Studio Pottery. It featured works from museums and private collections across the UK and America and was a collaboration with the Yale Centre for British Art. Public Engagement (cont’d) Art History students from SGS Bristol School of Art were inspired to curate an exhibition in May with objects from the KSC, on the theme of the Form of the Human Body. We held our third exhibition by second year ceramics students from Cardiff School of Art and Design in June, and it was as fascinating and impressive as ever. The students came and researched the collection in February and used the gallery space very creatively – even down to the drawers in the G-Plan sideboard! Autumn was devoted to glass. Peter Layton, of London Glassblowing, accepted our invitation to show his work alongside Ken’s classic European and British vintage glass. The exhibition was called Clarity of Vision. This was an exciting first for us as, in addition to having spectacular contemporary studio glass in the gallery, we decided to make this a selling show for Peter’s work, which became a welcome income stream. ‘Superb expressions of design in the last (almost) century.’ KSC visitor Continuing along the theme of contemporary studio glass, we were delighted in November to host an exhibition of the results of a workshop held in the Art Department of UWE devoted to the exploration of possibilities in the realm of 3D printing printing of moulds for glass fusing: GlassWorks. The resulting pieces were a mysterious mix of the ethereal and technical experimentation, displayed on a custom-made illuminated table. Public Engagement (cont’d) The workshop for teaching staff and postgrad Art students was led by UWE Senior Lecturer Dr Tavs Jorgensen and glass mould specialist, Angela Thwaites. Visitors to the gallery were stunned to see such ground breaking work on display, in complete contrast to the classic pieces from Ken’s collection. Another first for us was collaborating with UWE on the symposium which was organised to disseminate the findings of the workshop. The academic talks were held at Arnolfini and the public outreach talks were held at the KSC gallery. We were thrilled that Peter Layton came along and gave a fascinating talk about the development of the studio glass movement, while Tavs Jorgensen described in as much layman’s terms as possible the development of the process of 3D printing in ceramics and glass. It was fascinating to see and listen to such a mixture of talent in the field of glass.

Top: Pieces from the GlassWorks exhibition. Bottom: Ken Stradling (left) and Peter Layton (right). Education... is at the heart of the KSC The KSC is a fantastic resource for students and young designers, and the Design Study Centre is effective in supporting the collection in its ambition to reach a wide and diverse audience. The breadth and diversity of materials and form engage, inform and inspire those who come to visit or borrow objects for use on their own premises. Ken’s belief that objects in the Collection can be handled is an amazing asset for teachers and students alike, and all teachers agree: it really has a positive impact on the students’ learning experience. ‘Thanks for the excellent items on loan. This will give us some great starting points for the print section and clay section of the year-9 project (it also allows us to introduce some photography in the same way you saw in the year-10 books). You have been tremendously generous with the collection as ever. Very glad we can hopefully continue the relationship between KSC and BDS.’ Tom Machin, Bedminster Down School. Once again, we have been able to offer educational activities taking place in-house and on location in schools and colleges. Through our developing Education Programme, KSC personnel train and mentor pre-degree, undergraduate and post-graduate students to develop and deliver workshops to a wide range of pupils in their own school. While doing so, they act as ambassadors for further and higher education. The workshops use objects from the collection as a primary resource. This programme serves several purposes: learners have access to a primary research resource thus enabling them to achieve higher grades for assessed work; student-teachers can fulfil the requirements of work experience and live-project modules; hard- pressed teachers in schools and colleges are supported and the curriculum enriched by additional creative input. UWE MA student Terry B. delivering his workshop on ceramics at Bristol Metropolitan . Education... is at the heart of the KSC (cont’d)

‘Students learned from their objects and explored the history behind them and also exercised their creativity when colour, design, surface were introduced. In the lessons they were encouraged to analyse them not just from photos, but as real live objects that they are responsible for thus creating a sense of responsibility and appreciation by means of mutual trust.’ Laura P., MA Design student, UWE

This year we delivered the first of our workshops at Bristol Metropolitan Academy: Education Trustee David Beech mentored two MA students from University of the West of England (UWE) who developed a textile and a ceramic workshop that were delivered to Year-9 pupils in May. Through our work experience programme we aim to help students develop skills in personal creativity, handling museum quality objects, inspire creative thinking and develop research and communication skills. We increased the number of student work experience opportunities on offer, working with South Gloucester and Stroud College (SGS) Bristol School of Art, and received excellent feedback from staff and students. ‘I have really enjoyed my time with the Ken Stradling Collection. I feel like I have learned a lot and it has been a great experience! Being able to work with and handle a collection was something that I had never been able to do before and it really made me think of new ways that I could create art as well as being able to study the techniques of other artists!’ SGS Foundation Student

Throughout the year we have welcomed various groups of students covering a diverse selection of subjects, including textiles, architecture and product design. SGS Bristol School of Art has continued to use our study room for Art History, Applied Arts and Fine Art contextual studies. We were delighted to supply objects from the KSC for an exhibition curated by the Art History students on the theme of Forms of the Human Body, displayed at Queens Road, Bristol in May. Education... is at the heart of the KSC (cont’d)

We had our fourth year of collaborating with second year ceramics students from Cardiff School of Art and Design. Research of the KSC took place in February and the resulting work was exhibited in the gallery in June, in a wonderful exhibition.

Duncan Ayscough discussing ceramics with Cardiff students

‘Thank you all so much for accommodating us again today and facilitating such a positive experience for our students’ Duncan Ayscough, CSAD Lecturer Such collaborations as these really illustrate what the KSC is all about. Our Supporters The Ken Stradling Collection is a small organisation run by two part-time staff each working two days per week alongside Ken. We would not have been able to make such tremendous progress over the last five years without the support we receive from a wide range of people. Our Volunteers are a vital part of the KSC ‘family’. In addition to being active on social media, designing posters, giving IT and accountancy support, painting, decorating and cleaning, in 2018 our stewarding volunteers have helped us achieve our aim of opening the gallery every Saturday during exhibitions. ‘Being a volunteer steward at the Ken Stradling Collection gives me a chance to support this inspiring collection and help it to be appreciated by the many visitors’ Tanya Martin, KSC Friend and Volunteer Our Friends are a valuable source of support, both in terms of subscriptions, which help with the running costs, and by being participants in events, and ambassadors by spreading the word about the KSC. We produce a Friends’ newsletter bi- annually to keep members up to date with what is going on, and offer priority booking for our events. Our Patrons Group was launched in 2015 to provide vital financial support to the running of the Collection. Each Patron pledges a contribution of £500 for three consecutive years. As an independent charity with no public funding, such a commitment makes our development more sustainable, and is a great boost to morale. We are proud to acknowledge the following people as Patrons: Erica Rudd Martin and Margaret Christopher Richard and Pam Pelter Christopher Miers and Teresa Quiros Miers Margaret Howell Our Supporters (cont’d) We also gratefully appreciate support from: Helen Ball (The Art Fund) Janet Brinnand The Bristol Guild Sid Burnard Jeremy Cornwell Dreweatts Auctioneers The Gane Trust Eleanor Glover Tattwa Gyani Bob Hardcastle Gail Bowen-Huggett Tavs Jorgensen Tom Karen Peter Layton Christopher and Frances Lloyd David and Kay MacLaughlin Kate Malone Rosemary Melling Stephen Morris Sally Nash Peter Symes David Whiting Facts and Figures The Ken Stradling Collection The Design Study Centre Staff Registered address: 48 Park Row, Bristol, BS1 5LH Christopher Yeo – Curator (two days per week) Registered Charity no. 1117689 Julia Donnelly – Centre Manager (two days per week) www.stradlingcollection.org

Financial Statement for the year to 31 December 2018 Incoming Resources Donations and Subscriptions 14,450.00 Rent 8,716.00 Tax repayment 2,840.00 Sales, Lectures and Tours 2,781.00 28,787.00 Resources Expended Direct Charitable Expenditure 19,511.00 Other expenditure 8,592.00 TOTAL PAYMENTS 28,103.00 Excess of receipts over payments 684.00 Funds brought forward 2,312.00 Funds carried forward 2,996.00 APPENDIX A About the Trustees

Ken Stradling MA (Chairman) Ken Stradling has known many of the artists and makers of the pieces in the Collection, since he started at the Guild in 1948, transforming it into the leading centre for design and craft in Bristol. He gave many of them their first public shows at the Bristol Guild. In 1998 Ken was awarded an honorary Master of Arts Degree from the for his work in making the Bristol Guild a centre of excellence in art and design.

David Beech David Beech joined us after retiring as Head of Art, Design, Media and Photography of The Bristol School of Art (WISE campus) of South Gloucester and Stroud College and as course leader for the Foundation Diploma. Previous to his educational career, David ran a successful furniture design company. He is a passionate and committed believer in the positive effects of an arts education for all.

Mike Cannings Mike Cannings has collaborated with Ken Stradling for many years. He was Sales Director at Dartington Cider Press Centre, Commercial Manager at the SS Great Britain and is now Managing Director of the Bristol Guild. About the Trustees (cont’d)

Oliver Kent MA PhD PGCE Oliver Kent is a potter and a ceramic historian. He has lectured and researched for many years, and twice been selected to build and fire kilns at the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth. He is now tutor for the course leadership team at the Bristol School of Art, visiting lecturer on the MA ceramics course at Bath Spa University and continues his involvement with ceramic research, as well as making and teaching.

Peter Longman BSc Econ, Dip Drama, Hon FMA Our newest recruit, Peter studied law and Accountancy and then drama before joining the Arts Council to run its Housing the Arts Fund. After five years as Deputy Director of the Crafts Council and eleven as the Government’s Chief Adviser on museums and galleries he became Director of The Theatres Trust. He has been a non-executive Director or Advisor to over twenty other organisations.

Peter Metcalfe MPhil (Bath) Peter Metcalfe founded the Bath-based design and development consultancy ‘Alchemede’ which undertook a diverse range of design-led assignments for the manufacturing and retail sectors in the UK and overseas. In the 1980s he was Principal of the London College of Furniture. As a former Mayor of Bath, Peter is currently engaged with a number of cultural and educational bodies in the city region. About the Trustees (cont’d)

Cleo Witt MA FMA Cleo Witt was Curator of Applied Art at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, then became a freelance lecturer in further, higher and adult education, and an art/design historian. She joined the 20th Century Crafts Study Centre at the Holburne Museum in Bath, became Keeper of Decorative Art, then Head of Education, winning two Sandford Heritage Education Awards.

Our Staff

Curator - Chris Yeo Chris Yeo is curator of the Ken Stradling Collection. He is a specialist in 20th century British and Scandinavian applied art and previously worked for a fine art auction house. Chris also writes about antiques and design and is a specialist on the Antiques Roadshow.

Centre Manager - Julia Donnelly Julia Donnelly handles the day to day running of the KSC. After joining London Glassblowing Workshop as gallery assistant she trained in glassblowing and practised as a glass artist for many years. She then launched and ran a lively restaurant in Devon and organised music events. All of this experience helps in managing the busy and varied life at the KSC. APPENDIX B The Governance of the Trust

1. The Ken Stradling Collection is owned by the Trust and held at 48 Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LH, where part of it is on display in the Design Study Centre and part in store. The building at 48 Park Row is owned by the Trust, and it receives annual rent for adjacent ground and buildings owned by the Trust as used by the Bristol Guild. 2. The Trust is governed by a panel of Trustees who meet at least five times a year at the Design Study Centre, chaired by Ken Stradling; proceedings are recorded in minutes taken by the Centre Manager and approved by the Trustees. There are at present seven Trustees, including the Chairman, and a quorum of three Trustees is required for a meeting. 3. The Trust also employs a paid part-time Centre Manager and Curator who both report regularly to these meetings. 4. The Trust benefits from the advice of a voluntary financial adviser, and its accounts are audited annually and available for public scrutiny. 5. The Trust complies fully with the requirements of health and safety, and has a certificate for full public liability which is displayed in the Design Study Centre at 48 Park Row. 6. The Collection is fully insured, and the premises at 48 Park Row are protected by an independent effective alarm system. 7. The Collection is curated to full professional standards, and recorded by a computer system approved by the Museums Association. The Trust is an institutional member of the Museums Association and intends in due course to apply for Accreditation as resources permit. Visiting the Ken Stradling Collection

48 Park Row Bristol BS1 5LH 0117 3290566 [email protected] www.stradlingcollection.org

Opening hours: Wednesdays 11.00am – 4.00pm Saturdays 11.00am – 4.00pm during exhibitions