12th December 2025 – Combining Perspectives from Stoke-on-Trent and Wales.

Event three combined perspectives from Stoke-on-Trent and Wales in responding to the same theme – ‘Culture is Ordinary’: space and place for the arts in radical lifelong learning’ which we had addressed in our events on 26th September, with a focus on Wales, and 9th May, with a focus on Stoke. We asked what we can learn from The Portland Inn Project, in Stoke-on-Trent, and the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales. How does their work help us to re-imagine life wide learning – and the space and place for the arts in radical lifelong learning and adult education?

Anna Francis and Rebecca Davies presented the work of The Portland Inn Project and, in conversation with Linden West, discussed how participatory art interventions have been designed and created to respond to local needs and interests. Their presentation about The Portland Inn Project, asked how neighbourhood democracy, skills development and setting up a community land trust and alternative spaces for education relate to one another.

Ceri Thompson presented on his work at the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales and talked with Sharon Clancy about archives, memory and research. Ceri is the Curator (Coal) at the national museum, with a variety of research interests within the coal industry.