Mayor visits local pottery business
The Mayor of Dudley paid a visit to a local pottery business this week to find out how it is supporting a local mental health charity
Councillor Anne Millard visited Saz's Ceramics, which has been based in a studio at the Red House Glass Cone since 2007.
The Mayor met with owner Sarah Cannings and other members of staff to find out about their work.
The studio offers a range of activities and products for people of all ages and abilities who might want to have a go at throwing on a potter’s wheel or painting pottery or hand building with clay.
The studio recently started taking their activities out into the community, running projects in schools and nurseries and have just held a free pottery painting event to support Dudley CVS and their kindness campaign.
During the visit the Mayor also talked to staff about their decision at the start of the year to support a local charity.
Through the sale of a range of hand thrown and glazed pots, know as ‘pots of positivity’ and their mindfulness range, they are raising money for Black Country Mental Health (formerly Dudley Mind), which is one of the Mayor’s chosen charities this year.
The Mayor took the opportunity to get creative and paint some pottery from the mindfulness range during the visit.
Councillor Anne Millward, the Mayor of Dudley, said:
Saz's Ceramics is one the cone’s well-established businesses. It was wonderful to meet with Sarah and the rest of the team to find out how they have worked hard to help their business succeed and get people involved in being creative and learn new skills.
I was also pleased to learn that we have a shared passion for supporting Black Country Mental Health, it’s a charity close to my heart, and one I have chosen to support during my year as Mayor.
“I wish them every success in their efforts to raise vital funds for this worthwhile charity and thank them for letting me put my painting skills to the test.
Sarah Cannings, from Saz's Ceramics, said:
When we found out the Mayor’s chosen charity was Black Country Mental Health, we thought it would be great to invite her along to do some mindfulness pottery painting, to raise more awareness for this fantastic organisation.
We’re really proud of what we do and welcome people of all abilities to the studio. We have people coming in with basic craft knowledge, people who have never done anything arty before and even groups such as local carers with adults with special needs.
We are also proud to be a long-standing business at the cone, it’s a wonderful creative base for us to call home.
This visit was organised as part of the Made in Dudley borough initiative, which aims to celebrate and highlight the work of local businesses.