About Pigeon Shop by the Portland Inn Project

Pigeon Shop is an exciting pop-up venue that is part shop, part workshop. It celebrates the responsive, collaborative efforts by our social enterprise to make beautiful products.  

The Portland Inn Project worked with a group of young people to design and fit out this striking space and invites members of the public to experience first-hand some of the processes used to make a famous Portland Pigeon (a bespoke ridge tile developed with residents in the Portland Street neighbourhood).  

As well as the opportunity to see (and purchase) a pigeon, members of the public can hear about the tale of the pigeon and how it came to be our social enterprise’s first product, whilst they try press moulding one themselves! Other products will be available in the shop, including our ‘Potter’s Hand Cream’ – recently developed with the project’s women’s group – S.M.U.T (Singles and Mothers Unite Together). 

Who

As with all of The Portland Inn Project activity, this shop is suitable for all ages and abilities! The shop/workshop itself is drop in – and throughout the week there will be programmed activity. Please see our social media platforms for more information.

Delivered By

The Portland Inn Project CIC is a creative arts project for a community in Stoke On Trent with an aim to achieve community cohesion, economic, social and cultural development by involving the community in development of a pioneering community space, cultural hub and social enterprise. 

This is a collaborative delivery led by artists Anna Francis and Rebecca Davies with ceramic artist Alice Thatcher and residents of Portland Street and the surrounding streets. 

Rebecca Davies and Alice Thatcher will be leading on activity the shop. 

Rebecca Davies is co-director of PIP. She works with Anna to design and create projects that are truly responsive to local needs and interests. She has over ten years of experience designing and delivering projects in community contexts across the UK. Her artistic practice crosses illustration, design and performance and she gets to fold these skills into her role as part of PIP. 

Alice Thatcher is a ceramic artist and has worked with the project since 2016. We collaborate on ceramic projects, and Alice is mostly managing The Portland Pigeon as part of her growing role with us.

Portland Inn Project website link.

Accessibility

If you have any questions or concerns, please email theportlandinnproject@gmail.com.

Supported By

Pigeon Shop by the Portland Inn Project  is supported by Arts Council England, BID, Community Foundation Staffordshire, Creative Civic Change, EU Social Fund.