THE STODIO POTTER BETWORK: AE INTRODUCTION by Kit Cornel! The following, reprinted with permission, appeared in the Autumn [957 issue of contact, a quarterly publication of the Alberta Potters' Association. Pouecs’ work asks our best amention and nyuch of cur time. It is a Tribune to peters’ sense of community that so many guilds, co-ops, workshops and other ceramic associations exist and Cheive in today's emanating enviranment. In booking at ihe field im 1ORT, che Stiefica Potter stalf becanve aware that ibese groups lacked interconnection. We decided to creare the opporunity for the sharing af energy, infornaltien and oppartianibes amerip chy onganizanons. The first publication wf the Sudie Potter Network was a newsprint poster beraiding the exutence of groups we'd been able to klentify, along with informacion about them. It was conceived by Studio Poser Exoolive Dacian Geny Williams, racurched ancl wanpihed bey Gerry ad mysell, ane subsalized by Stuefio Parer, whieh save this acliviy a3 an important service 10 the field, Stadio Power, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year as a nonprofic organi- Lalion committed wm the advancement of ceramics, coninues ba averset unel encourage the uctivilies af Une netvock. . Since We PEC our Firat roars down five yours age, the Studio Potter Network lias grown to be a theving membership organization of 67 groups The Alberta Potters’ Association is an impcetot Cunuclian member, as are Fuston Onna Clay und Glas Asesciution) anu the Pacers’ Guikl ef British Columba Mest of cur proups ace in the Uni Stites (we're based in New Hampshire), Gul we have. a growing represeniation ubread, wh current members in Germany, France one! China, There is abo a group mepeeseniing antbes af colkw—The Calor Mawurk— basil in Conmecticus, Our purpose is simple: to strengthen the community of potters within our field through encouraging conanvunécation, interaction, anc shared, sense of purpose, We do chis by working togciber a4 proups, however loosely or formally structured, however Lage or snall The merwork's eximence has inspumed the foomation of new groaipes ane re energized sone falbeing ones, gad we actively encoueape this qew preening by providing udvice, suppur ane onmnizsional imfanation A prop joining the Studio Poler Network receives several benef. (The Alberta Potters’ Association is 2 member of the Sraclio Potter Mervock.) Qur publicagion, the Neto Moirsavan, is miadked in bulk to fieenibers in Septeniber und March C10 or 23 copies depending on the group's size, with ackitional copies at cust). Groups may ako Subscribe to Studio Potter mogagine ac 2 atiscourme rate, An anna ree “Dur pampose Is simple: to strengrhen the community of pomers within our field through Sniourapey COmmunation, interaction, and shared sense of urpese. It is our cemsiction that in romeTios action lies the poesinllity for comstructive change curselves, our field and our word.” updaed dimer of groups in lhe network and a workebop leur handbook provide reference material. Members of euch proup interested in piveng workshops may be listed in cur wearkslesys eicker hindbesk. In adklitign. Mey have the right te participate te cur bel and hreakhist network and the oppartunity bo shew werk in waar annual national benefit exhilation and sale each saring, Our activities are designed to be both inclusive and expuasive. The netwusk cosponsors with the Nurkengl Gouncil on Educarion dor the Ceramic Ans (NCECA}, a nerworking sesdion at theie arial conference. erauring inchaion af underrepresented seguents of cur feel. We distribute a video listing and maintain a video fencing library, are) are actively engaged in adwocacy around pertinent issues. le is our conviction that in common actin lies the poesilyiliey for constructive change in our selves, our Geld and our world. ; Financial support is provided by our member groups through annual memberships, damatbons are! advertisemencs in the Metrreart Newsletter. Ceramics suppliers and manufacturers alsa supper our programs with ads and comrilutiond, We oecadionally cecelve grants fram fone onanitaiens, With a nodes buelpet, the Studs Pier Metwock i largely Cocke by Ue energy of indivekuals ba one ender groups who feel the network & imporant. The has been oie from the outset. and as our potential lias expuntled, sa las the number of peopk: meee, The = Melaaire Aeresteiier ina vitil neds cf vert nicalhan Ming ourselses as potter Unused issue Rsinires sei network group, tin interview or nnicie abet inedividhal elf significance, a8 well ste antivhes on workshops, publi relations, rexklenvics, ledges and cdlier subj ef imicrest ie ae Spwcitic mews if prop wens und activilies is solicned onal neponed fron ull arene of the plobe. oni members mewslerter are often excerpt Recopeinon of the vile of pevhelapical alysis beaks us to thevelop & exenypriter esvock Gar alee cy suctiens, amauta a ey bins hut ef particule urgency in cur particular political clemate. A eed far pemonal dscusion ans support among group lenders hus bed us ti consider a reireur in 9445 for dissctors of aeteork oqpanduckens. The Studie Potter Metwork, like the begencdary piangko bose, gyeress she. We welcome you to contribute no its growth, be meet liner Bs brooches oo exchange leas amd budkl for a shamed Fuoare in which Qocters will gente to baw a vind rade Kit Cartel] is the editor of the Fetwork Newsletter, Wenders of the Potters’ Gaild of B.C, way receive the Stegie Fetters Network pubjication by ineluding an additiona! $5.00 is their erro dues paywent to cover postage from the Vancoaver Gaild office,