Sleaford: a market town on the edge of the Lincolnshire fens;somwhere between Grantham, Boston and Lincoln with a population of about 18,000 and, from my limited experience, the worst traffic system in UK!
Important fact: Sleaford is now the home of the National Centre for Craft and Design within an old seed factory on Navigation Wharf.
I had no idea that this was such an impressive set up. In addition to the shop there is a lovely looking café, several workshop spaces and a number of fabulous exhibition spaces which, coincidentally, currently comprise two ceramics exhibitions. Alphabet Aerobics by Anton Alvarez challenges the preconceptions of making, craft and design. Alvarez is not a ceramic artist but here he is making use of clay to explore and redefine the role of the artist in the creative process. The results are strangely beautiful and the space they are currently occupying only serves to enhance this.
Up on the top floor in Sleaford is the work of Kathryn Parsons. Her exhibition, Found in the Field is inspired by the poems of John Clare and comprises tiny, exquisite porcelain works. I could have spent hours in their company!
So come on, friends, the deep recesses of Lincolnshire are certainly worthy of a trip, but might I suggest that you leave your car at home and go by train!