walking around the new gallery at New Walk merely confi rms the feelings I remember from when Attenborough led me around the earlier exhibition, pointing out particular favourites, utterly engaged by the spirit of life, mischief and visual invention that informed the works on display. Simultaneously modern and timeless, Picasso's ceramics have an immediacy that fully justifi es Attenborough's own conclusion."I think it would be impossible for anyone to not respond to this energy and humour," he said. "There's something quite magical in Picasso's touch that I've been privileged to live with for over 30 years. Their move to New Walk leaves a large gap in our home but I take enormous pleasure in knowing these things are now accessible to everyone, just as that very fi rst 30 franc ashtray was there for us back in 1954." ?A catalogue, by Marilyn McCully and Michael Raeburn, is published by New Walk Museum & Art Gallery (ISBN 978-0-9569221-0-6), priced £25 (hb)Above: The New Walk Museum & Art Gallery in LeicesterPICASSO CERAMICS: THE ATTENBOROUGH COLLECTIONOpen: Monday - Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pmAddress: New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, 53 New Walk, Leicester, LE1 7EA Groups: museums@leicester.gov.ukContact: 0116 225 4900; www.leicester.gov.ukAdmission: FreeGetting there: By train - Leicester stationwww.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 2012 31 CERAMIC ART

Culture and curiositiesThe Beaney Institute in Canterbury, founded over 110 years ago, has been closed for three years to allow for a £14m refurbishment. Simon Tait fi nds out about the exciting cultural centre that will emerge from beneath the hoardings THE BEANEY