10 talented learning disabled ceramicists from the Venture Arts studio in Manchester are taking part in a special 10-Clay ceramics event in the run-up to the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k. The participants will each create a souvenir cup that will symbolise celebration and ‘cheers’, inspired by their team mates who will be running their ‘arts’ out at the Great Manchester Run to raise valuable funds for the Venture Arts charity. The cups will be created in a series of workshops in the studio in Hulme.

Venture Arts is a national leader in visual arts which engage and support people with learning disabilities, giving them opportunities to be recognised in art and culture.  As a charity, Venture Arts organises a series of fundraising events each year. This year a team of over 20 runners (participants, volunteers, staff and friends of Venture Arts) will be going the extra mile to run 10k at the Great Manchester Run to raise valuable funds for the charity.

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The 10-Clay ceramic event will support the fundraising drive by raising awareness of Venture Arts and its talented participants and put art at the centre of the 10k challenge. Some of the money raised will contribute to materials needed for the ceramics sessions for 2019.  This will help more than 75 people to create and work with clay (30 via the main programme of studio workshops, 25 through the young people’s workshops and a further 20 via Venture Arts’ schools projects). It is hoped that the wider public will donate to Team Venture Arts via its BTMyDonate fundraising page at: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ventureartsstaff

The individually crafted, one-off, souvenir ceramic cups will create a stunning display (and will be available to buy) at a special event on 23 May to applaud the efforts of the 10-Clay participants and Team Venture Arts runners.

In addition, local ceramicists (members of Clay Studio in Hulme and the Manchester Ceramics Collective) are supporting the project by donating handcrafted cups to be exhibited alongside those made by the Venture Arts participants at the celebration event.

Amanda Sutton, Director at Venture Arts said: “Manchester 10-Clay is a great way for more of our participants to get involved in supporting Team Venture Arts as they bravely take on the Great Manchester Run challenge on 19 May. We wanted to widen the 10k experience to our artists that don’t want to run but do want to be part of the fun, whilst raising awareness and much needed funds for our brilliant charity.  Right now we are in real need of vital renovations to our art studio and much needed arts equipment.”

Caroline Tattersall, award-winning ceramicist and co-founder of Clay Studio said: “We have a great, long-standing relationship with Venture Arts and we really enjoy supporting their ceramics programme. Their 10-Clay idea is fantastic, and I’m thrilled that Clay Studio is involved in a project that will showcase the talents of the Venture Arts ceramicists.”