Company will make winning mugs with proceeds going to NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal – and mugs will be exhibited at V&A!
Royal Crown Derby has just launched an exciting new campaign designed to support the NHS.
The ‘Make a Mug, Make a Difference’ competition gives children the
exclusive opportunity to design a mug that celebrates the NHS. The
winning mugs will then be made by Royal Crown Derby artisans who aim to
produce 26,299 mugs, representing and celebrating every day since the
formation of the NHS on July 5, 1948 to its 72nd anniversary in 2020.
The competition has two entry categories, under 12’s and 12-18 and
entries will be shortlisted by Royal Crown Derby’s in-house design team
and the winner in each category will be selected by the artist and
children’s author Liz Million.
Both mugs are priced at £30 with 100 per cent of profits being
donated directly to NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. The
mugs are immediately available to pre-order via the Royal Crown Derby
website and each purchase includes a free ticket to tour the Royal Crown
Derby factory and museum. Those wishing to buy the mug as a gift have
the option to add a personalised gift message to their delivery.
Managing Director, Christopher Oakes says: “Everyone at Royal Crown
Derby had a strong ambition to support the NHS, especially as many of
our team have front line workers in their immediate family. We explored
several options, but we ultimately chose this campaign as it allows us
to support the NHS by offering 100 per cent of our profits and help
British families who are also facing unprecedented challenges. We hope
our entry packs will give children a much-needed challenge, boost
creativity, and encourage them to learn about how precious the NHS is.
Royal Crown Derby is the oldest surviving British pottery maker and we
have a long history of creating high quality commemorative pieces dating
right back to the coronation of King George III in 1761. Today we make
luxury fine bone china for retailers, hotels and restaurants and whilst
many of our Clients have temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus
Pandemic, we are still able and willing to make the mugs and make a
difference. We’ve added the option to include a personalised message
card as we hope many mugs will be given as gifts to loved ones or as a
thank you to the frontline hero’s, who are protecting and serving us
allâ€.
Museum Director, Elizabeth Woledge adds: “It has been a real
pleasure to work together on this campaign. Our entry packs encourage
young people to explore the process of design and explore their creative
abilities. Royal Crown Derby’s history includes the work of some
extremely talented artists and designers, some of whom were working as
apprentices as young as 13. We are looking forward to opening the
entries and seeing some of the amazing talent which we know is out there
among young people today.â€
Competition entries are now open and will close at 4 p.m. on May 7,
2020. The winners will be invited to Derby to meet the design team and
see how the mugs are made from start to finish at the factory, in the
heart of England. The winners will also take a tour of the Palace of
Westminster with Jo Gideon MP and will be presented with the first mug
off the production line together with their framed artwork. The winners
will also visit the V&A, the world’s leading museum of art, design
and performance, where their mugs will be exhibited.
Tristram Hunt. Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum says:
“The V&A is delighted to be able to endorse this important and
innovative response by Royal Crown Derby to the COVID-19 emergency. Our
front-line workers need all the help and funding possible, and it is
wonderful to see a great British pottery company encouraging ceramic
skills with the next generation in support of such a worthy cause. We
look forward to welcoming the winning young designers to the V&A in
South Kensington.â€
Jo Gideon MP, commented “As an MP and Parliamentary Private
Secretary to BEIS (department for Business Energy and Industrial
Strategy) I’m passionate about the NHS, the future of young people and
business, including the Ceramic Industry. That’s why I’m delighted to
support this amazing competition which not only celebrates our wonderful
NHS but will raise much needed funds for the NHS All Charities Together
COVID-19 Urgent Appealâ€.
Royal Crown Derby are also grateful for the generous support of Global
Ceramic Materials limited who are generously providing a discount on the
raw materials meaning that even more money can be donated to the NHS
Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.
