PRESS RELEASE
27/06/15

Libby Buckley, Previous Director of the Telegraph Museum

Porthcurno, Announced as New Director of the Leach Pottery

Libby Buckley, previously the Director of the Telegraph Museum Porthcurno, is to take up the position of Director of the Leach Pottery, St Ives, from 11 July.

Libby was Director of the Telegraph Museum for five years and oversaw the recent and highly successful £3.2 million redevelopment of the museum, which went on to win South West Cornwall Tourism's 2014/2015 Gold Award for Museum and Industrial Attraction of the Year. With an MA Honours in Classical Civilisation from Glasgow University and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, she has over fifteen years of experience in the arts and heritage sector, having previously worked at the British Postal Museum and Archive and the British Museum in London, and the Caribbean's Turks and Caicos National Museum. She also set up and chaired the Cornwall Museum Group, which provides opportunities for museum staff and volunteers to get together and exchange ideas as well as apply for joint funding. 

Of her new role Libby, who has just returned from a nine-month driving expedition from Cornwall to Cape Town South Africa with her husband and two small children, says:

‘I am so thrilled to be taking the Leach Pottery helm at such an important and iconic site'.

Of her appointment, Acting Chair of the Leach Pottery Board of Trustees, Professor Simon Olding says:

‘The Trustees of the Leach Pottery warmly welcome Libby as she takes up the post of Director, and we look forward to an exciting period of development in the lead up to the centenary of the founding of the Pottery in 2020'.

Associate Professor of Design at Falmouth University, and Leach Pottery Acting Director, Dr Katie Bunnell says:

‘I am delighted to be passing the Leach Pottery baton to Libby, who has an excellent track record in museums development as well as a real understanding of regional agendas'.

-ENDS-

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Leach Pottery

The Leach Pottery is managed by the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Ltd, a registered charity founded in 2005 reg. no 1111263. The primary objectives of the trust are to further the development of studio pottery, provide training in the art, craft and making of pottery and to advance the public education of the life and work of Bernard Leach and his circle.

For Leach Pottery enquiries please contact Dr Katie Bunnell, Acting Director, Leach Pottery, Higher Stennack, St. Ives, Cornwall TR26 2HEkatie@leachpottery.comTel: 01736 799703www.leachpottery.comFor press information contact Mercedes Smith at Fine Art Communications,mercedes@fineartcommunications.co.uk,07825 270235,www.fineartcommunications.co.uk.