Hooray for Clay!
The Branch team work with Kate Malone on FiredUp4, raising money for pottery studios in OnSide Youth Zones
Bringing together 32 of the UK’s leading ceramicists in an online auction hosted by Maak, the international online auction house, we were delighted to partner with the wonderful Kate Malone for FiredUp4, culminating in £100,000 being raised in November’s sale.
Branch Arts were delighted to help coordinate the successful campaign through a strategic communications campaign which included designing and building a dedicated website and introducing the project to London Craft Week for an official launch.
“The mission of FiredUp4 is to provide that opportunity for the young OnSide Youth Zone members, many of whom are vulnerable and marginalised and would not otherwise have this opportunity. Every child has a seed of talent, and exposure to facilities can nurture unforeseen passions. These studios could be a door to a creative life - a child who learns to make things develops a material understanding, can become a more able person, someone more interested and more interesting”
- Kate Malone
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 meant that the original plans for FiredUp4 were thrown into disarray. Branch were keen to make sure the project maximised its amazing potential and advocated for an Autumn launch to lead into the November auction. Initiating a launch event as part of London Craft Week in the beautiful Ham Yard Hotel felt like a natural partnership. The panel discussion brought together Kate Malone, Kit Kemp, Nina Campbell and was hosted by Grant Gibson of Materials Matters. Kit Kemp selected pots by Felicity Aylieff, Akiko Hirai, John Ward, Kate Malone and Andrew Wicks.
Highlights of the PR campaign included Kate Malone and one of the Youth Zone members on BBC Women’s Hour, larger profile pieces in the Observer and Ceramic Review, an interview with Barnaby Barford for Design Edit and Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Chorley’s MP featured on ITV News.