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This week, we caught up with the uber-creative Maxine van den Bergh from The Potter’s Hand, a creative pottery studio which is based in the centre of Ashton…

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Tell us about your business or creative venture?

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The Potter’s Hand opened just over two years ago in Ashton Under Lyne.  The studio is based within the local 4C Community Centre, and offers a welcoming environment in which people can be creative working with clay, painting pottery and creating keepsakes.

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There’s something for all ages and abilities and lots of inspiration and advice. Pottery painting is a great way to unwind, socialise or escape into a creative space. The feedback we receive is that it feels therapeutic and very enjoyable. Once a person completes their painting the pottery is then glazed and fired in a kiln so that the finished product is durable, food safe and shiny.  We’ve found that being based in the community centre we are able to engage with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

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What do you love about Ashton and Tameside?

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South African-born, I moved to Tameside with my family over 20 years as my mum was originally from Dukinfield and moved to South Africa in her 20’s. My mum and dad decided to return to the UK to spend quality time with my grandmother, and so we embarked on the big move!

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We made Tameside our home and over the 20 years I’ve worked in Hyde, Dukinfield, the Northern Quarter and Ashton. What I love about the area is, 25 minutes in one direction you have Manchester city centre and 25  minutes in the other direction you can enjoy the countryside.

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My children attend school in Tameside and we’ve been very fortunate to have them attend fantastic schools in the area.

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How is the town’s heritage and culture reflected in your business?

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We get a lot of visitors and customers from throughout the area. Our ‘business’ is about encouraging creativity and we get to see people using their heritage and culture in their art and design. We’ve linked with local Guides groups and churches where we can use local influences to create keepsakes and artwork.

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It’s been an incredible two years of getting to know the community and seeing the impact the space is having on those who visit regularly.

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What would bolster the town’s cultural/ creative /local business community?

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Community engagement is a great way to bolster the town’s culture and brings people into the town supporting local businesses. Events like Bridge Fest in Stalybridge bring about a vibrant attraction to the area and gives the community something to get involved in.

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Having the studio within a community centre has given me the opportunity to see how communities come together and form good relationships and links within a space. I believe working with local organisations like churches and community groups enables engagement in an in-depth way as they already have established relationships with people they engage with.

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Keeping the town centre clean and tidy is important as it proves a place to be proud of and take pride in. The local parks and greenspaces are fantastic and creating local events like spy trails or interactive walks are always popular with families.

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A number of years ago, parts of Dukinfield were involved in Britain in Bloom and it encouraged communities to work together to create beautiful gardens, planters and areas.

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We live in the Waterloo area of Ashton and recent improvements in our local park have meant more families are coming out to enjoy the park and facilities.

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What are your favourite venues/ventures and services in the town?

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I love the 4C community centre, where the studio is based. This centre has become an integral part of this community. Local schools, groups and businesses use the space daily.  There’s a fantastic café on site too, which brings people together.

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‍You can find out more about The Potter’s Hand at https://www.4cashton.org.uk/art_studio