Walk into the back rooms of the ceramics studio at the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) and you may discover the largest number of blue roses you’ve ever seen. They are sheets and sheets of transfers designed for white ceramics. The bold designs have become the icon of the longstanding campaign group, set up nearly 20 years ago to defend the heart of Bristol.
From this bright blue and orange tenement building on Jamaica Street, the PRSC fights to preserve street art and public spaces amid encroaching commercialisation. They produce distinctive pottery, sold at a nearby shop, and run art classes and warm spaces for people living on the streets. As part of this, they have a large events space on the ground floor which hosts everything from community art clubs and film screenings to public debates, meetings and workshops. It even has the world’s smallest art gallery inside a toilet called ‘the Loovre’. Through their work, the PRSC challenges the idea that street painting equates to criminal damage when it looks good and encourages creativity. “By giving people space to play, places can be made more beautiful,” they say.
The building itself is owned by the Stokes Croft Land Trust, whose mission is to bring land and property in the area into community ownership, to support the arts and fight gentrification. “We believe that the only way to halt this excavation of cultural capital is for the community to own its own land, and thereby be in control of its own destiny. We deserve to reap the rewards of our efforts,” the group says. The purchase of the property on Jamaica Street was the trust’s first, after raising over £325,000 from the community to buy it.
Laura works at the ceramic studio. “When the potteries were going bust in Stoke, the PRSC got hold of a lot of the old transfers, some dating back to the 1950s,” she says. They continue to source white ceramics from Stoke. The pottery is sold down the road at a shop on Jamaica Street. All profits from sales go back into supporting the PRSC’s community activism and activities.
As well as the emotional energy this requires – the centre relies on a lot of volunteer support and good will – with the kilns and warm spaces, it’s also hugely energy intensive. The kilns have to be on for 24 hours to fire £2,000-worth of ceramics. They’re on twice a week, which costs around £45.
After buying the building last year, the Land Trust laid out a plan to make it more energy efficient, including the installation of solar panels on the roof. To help with the project, they successfully applied to our Megawatt Community Energy Fund, which we run with Low Carbon Gordano.
“Our focus is providing the infrastructure and foundations for organisations like the PRSC. With your funding we’re (literally) helping put a roof over their head and powering their good work,” trustee Lucas Batt said.
Supporting work like the PRSC and the Land Trust is what Bristol Energy Cooperative is all about – fuelling community spirit with some positive energy.
Looking for an unconventional Christmas gift and want to support a great community project? You can get Stokes Croft China from their online shop or visit them on Jamaica Street. And until the end of January they are offering up to 40% off booking for venue hire – more information here.
You can read more about our Megawatt Community Energy Fund here.
