The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 49 No 2 July 2010

Community
Dreams become reality
in Daylesford
Dawn Whitehand reports on t he launch of a new ceramics co-operative
A warm breeze stirred through the car park of Door Three on the afternoon of Saturday 17 April,
fanning the rising anticipation of the eight co-ordinators of the newly formed Daylesford Region
Ceramics Co-operative Ltd. Now a legal entity, the Co-operative was to be officially launched at 4 pm,
whereupon memberships would be accepted and fundraising activities could begin.
Situated within Victoria's mineral spa country, the natural beauty and resources of Daylesford have,
for many decades, attracted artists and people seeking alternative lifestyles. The idea for a ceramics
co-operative in this country town was first seeded amongst a small group of TAFE ceramic students
at the University of Ballarat. These students shared a vision for a communal ceramic space that would
enable the exchange and sharing of resources and facilities such as studios, equipment, kilns and a
gallery. The small group met regularly and almost two years later the dreams of Kath Wrattan, Sue
Mitchell and Desiree Radi Mansbridge - joined by fellow co-ordinators M inna Graham, Jo Arrow,
Melanie Earl, Kim Haughie and me (Dawn Whitehead) - have come to fruition. The Co-operative is now
a functional body.
The women making up the board of directors are all at varying stages of their ceramic careers, and
all share a passion for the provision of a practical and supportive space for people to develop their skill
and creative base in ceramics. Having successfully completed the TAFE Ceramics Diploma last year, Kath
Wratten is currently enrolled in second year of the University of Ballarat Visual Arts Undergraduate
degree, majoring in ceramics; Sue Mitchell, Minna Graham, Jo Arrow and Kim Haughie are all at
varying stages of the TAFE Diploma course, with Haughie recently selected to participate in the Gangjin
International Ceramic Artist's Exhibit, Workshop and Tour, for the 38th Gangjin Celadon Cultural Festival
in South Korea . Desiree Radi Mansbridge completed her Honours Degree at the University of Ballarat
in 2008, and since then has been working as a full time studio potter. Radi Mansbridge is working
towards a solo exhibition at Tin Sheds Arts, Malmsbury in June, 2010. Melanie Earl brings administrative
experience to the co-op, though she also shares a passion for ceramics. Earl has participated in ceramics
short courses and is currently undertaking a short course in photography. In December 2009, I was
awarded my PhD from the University of Ballarat, and have recently returned from a ceramics residency at
AIR Valla uris in France.
Why a ceramics co-op in Daylesford7 Besides the practicality of ceramicists needing studio space,
Radi Mansbridge notes, "Ceramics was a lucrative business before the introduction of plastics and
cheap Chinese imports. Most potters today subsidise their clay passion w ith part-time teaching or work.
Slowly ceramics courses are being axed from secondary and tertiary education. Of the courses that do
remain, fees are on the increase and, as a result, the number of emerging ceramic artists is slowly but
surely decreasing." The vision of the founding directors is to counter this trend via a non-profit ceramics
co-operative that w ill stimulate, support and nurture creative enterprise in the local community. The aim
is to generate a space to exchange and share resources, ideas, knowledge and skill in the making of
objects from clay. They also believe the facility will reinvigorate and promote a sustainable local industry,
a highly relevant concept in a world dominated by globalisation and mass industry.
86 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS JULY 2010