One Bethesda Hanley to host free Pinc College art exhibition

One Bethesda in Hanley is being brought back into use as a pop-up exhibition space this summer, with Pinc College hosting a free student art exhibition as Re-Form Heritage explores the future of the Grade II-listed building.

One Bethesda comes to life with Free Pinc College Pop-Up exhibition this Summer!

Re-Form Heritage is working with the owner of One Bethesda, a property at 1 Bethesda Street and 39 Albion Street, Hanley to make it into a key element of Hanley’s Cultural Quarter. This Grade II-listed building has a prominent location next to Bethesda Chapel, which is also owned by Re-Form Heritage, and opposite the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. The regeneration of One Bethesda will connect these two cultural icons and provide a great opportunity to build on activity at both sites.

One Bethesda was originally built as the Staffordshire Potteries Water Board headquarters, on Albion Street, and the Potteries Central Savings Bank, on Bethesda Street, and later combined, it was most recently used as a bar / restaurant, but has been unoccupied since 2008.

Re-Form Heritage is currently completing a Viability Study for the building, funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund, which will explore possible future uses for the site. Whilst plans for its regeneration are being developed, the building is being brought back into use as a pop-up exhibition space. The first exhibition at One Bethesda will be hosted by Pinc College, and this space will then host further pop-up exhibitions going forward. Pinc College are a specialist arts educator who have a long-standing relationship with Re-Form Heritage. They currently have education space at their flagship site Middleport Pottery and are set to be the anchor tenant of neighbouring Bethesda Chapel. Pritpal Nagi, High Sheriff of Staffordshire will open the Pinc College exhibition at 12 noon on Monday the 29 th June and this free student end of year art exhibition will run until Sunday 8th July.

Andrew Emery, Re-Form Heritage CEO says “We are really excited to be breathing new life back into this building alongside our work next door to refurbish Bethesda Chapel 'the cathedral of the Potteries' which we are working with Historic England to refurbish for occupation as an education and events space. The two projects are being developed in tandem to revive the beating heart of Hanley's cultural quarter, alongside the Council's investments in the Potteries Art Gallery and Museum just across the street.”

Pritpal Nagi, High Sheriff of Staffordshire said “I am so pleased to see this One Bethesda Building as one of the Hanley’s most distinctive heritage buildings, combining Victorian civic architecture and prime city-centre location within the culture quarter making it a significant asset within Stoke-On-Trent’s historic core, now coming back in use. My thanks goes to Re-Form Heritage and Stoke-On Trent City Council for their dedication.”

Himarni Brownsword, Cultural Connector at Pinc College said “Pinc College are delighted to be reactivating the space at Bethesda One with a pop-up exhibition of student artwork. The exhibition is a celebration of the creativity, innovation, and hard work of our incredible students. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a range of work from traditional and digital artwork to ceramics, sculpture, photography, animation, and film. We are so grateful to Re-Form Heritage for enabling us to help bring this amazing space to life.”