A 19-year-old filmmaker has created a film to help drive Longton’s bid to become the UK’s first ‘Town of Culture’.
Ellie Meredith, from Blurton, was inspired to tell the story after attending a Town Hall meeting about the bid, which is being led by Urban Wilderness CIC.
This One’s For You, Longton, which is available to view on the Ellie Meredith Photography Facebook page, was created to capture the town’s community spirit, culture and heritage.
Ellie said: “I felt that my passion for photography and videography could be used to create something to showcase the town and create a visual storytelling of Longton’s past, present and potential future.
“Longton isn’t just another dot on the map; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of industrial grit, artistic flair and a resilient community spirit.
“Winning the competition would create opportunities for the Longton community, allowing us to be proud of our town and all that we have to offer – and setting us on the right path for greater success and cultural vibrancy.”
The campaign has already sparked widespread community engagement, with residents coming together for a series of ‘Straight Out Of Longton’ images, including a large-scale drone photograph of a crowd in the town centre complete with banners and confetti cannons.
Residents have come together for a series of ‘Straight Out Of Longton’ images (image via Ellie Meredith Photography)
The bid focuses on Longton’s historic ceramics identity paired with ambitions to create pathways for young people (aged 14 to 30), free creative family activities, bringing underused spaces back to life and boosting local assets such as Gladstone Pottery Museum and Queen’s Park..
Urban Wilderness CIC co-director Isla Telford said Ellie’s contribution perfectly captures what the bid is all about.
She said: “We know that our local young people are incredibly creative and our main motivation for working on the Town of Culture bid for Longton has been to create a generational step-change.
“This investment would create an unprecedented range of local opportunities for young people aged 14 to 30. Ellie is incredible, and we’re thrilled that even pulling together the bid has inspired her, and hopefully other young people, to look for the possibilities in Longton.”
The bid has also attracted national backing, with actor Toby Jones confirmed as an ambassador, while ceramicist and broadcaster Keith Brymer Jones has voiced his support.
Partners include British Ceramics Biennial, Gladstone Pottery Museum, Duchess China, Launch It, PH Productions, U7 Arts, Claybody Theatre, Co-op Academies Trust, UTC, Fresh Roots, Stoke Creates, Longton Community Partnership and Love Longton with Stoke-on-Trent City Council acting as the accountable body for the programme.
Isla added: “We’re proud of Longton’s past, especially its ceramics heritage, but this bid is about the future.
“It’s about creating something that young people feel part of, something that gives them reasons to stay, to create and to believe in this town.”
Shortlisted towns will be announced in spring, with the winner expected to be announced next year.
