The ceramic collection of the School of Art, Aberystwyth University is one of the major collections of studio ceramics in Britain and is particularly noted for its studio pottery of the period 1920-1940. The collection has fine examples of pottery by Bernard Leach, Michael Cardew, Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie, Norah Braden, Charles and Nell Vyse, William Staite Murray and Reginald Wells. The main c
ollection was formed between 1920-1936 and since 1974 there has again been an active acquisitions policy and there is now a major collection of contemporary ceramics. The collection also includes a fine body of nineteenth century slipware and examples of work from many periods, from archaeological specimens to Welsh porcelain of Nantgarw and Swansea. Exhibitions and displays are shown in a purpose built gallery on the ground floor of Aberystwyth Arts Centre. The principal parts of the collection are permanently on display in display storage in the back gallery while the front gallery is used for changing displays and exhibitions from the permanent collection and touring exhibitions. The collections have been supported in recent years by funding from Arts Council Wales, the Council of Museums in Wales, by loans of work by the Crafts Council and by purchase grant funding from the Victoria and Albert Purchase Grant Fund and the National Art Collections Fund.
