The opening of a new £34m World of Wedgwood at Easter, the return of the British Ceramics Biennial in the autumn and a major exhibition of china from China in the spring are just some of the reasons why Stoke-on-Trent is confident of attracting even more visitors to The Potteries in 2015.

Ahead of the Curve - a ground-breaking exhibition which showcases new trends in studio ceramics and glass art by leading Chinese artists - will be taking centre stage at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent from March 14th to May 31st.

Focusing, in particular, on artists working in Shanghai and Jingdezhen the show has already gained rave reviews from its time at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and at The Wilson in Cheltenham.

The Wedgwood Estate in Stoke-on-Trent, meanwhile, has welcomed visitors for more than 250 years.  But the latest chapter in Wedgwood's long history, promises to be one of the most impressive of all - as the world-famous manufacturer prepares to officially open a new £34 million World of Wedgwood' on May 1st.

The state-of-the-art visitor experience will feature an interactive hands-on factory tour and the chance to spend time in the Wedgwood Museum, buy fine china and ceramics in a flagship store, and dine in The Wedgwood Tearoom or a new signature restaurant.

The existing Wedgwood Visitor Centre will close to all visitors during the start of 2015 while the finishing touches are put to the next visitor experience, The World of Wedgwood (http://www.wedgwoodvisitorcentre.com/content/new-2015).

This massive investment by Wedgwood recognizes the popularity of Stoke-on-Trent and The Potteries (http://www.visitstoke.co.uk) as a top UK tourism destination – something which will be boosted still further with the return of the British Ceramics Biennial (http://www.britishceramicsbiennial.com) to the city in the autumn.

Back for its fourth festival in its spiritual home, The 2015 British Ceramics Biennial will once again feature some of the very best and most cutting edge contemporary ceramic art and craft through a whole series of events, installations, exhibitions and workshops.

All this comes on the back of another major attraction for The Potteries - Middleport Pottery (http://www.princes-regeneration.org/middleport-pottery/visit-us) - which opened its doors to the public as recently as July 2014.

For further details of all of the above, as well as other attractions in Stoke-on-Trent & The Potteries - including the new Sculpture Trail, and the ever-popular Trentham Estate - visit www.visitstoke.co.uk.

For further information and images, please contact:

Sam Hall

Tel: 01782 232817

Email: tourism@stoke.gov.uk