The Butterfly Bush Effect Exhibition
27 June – 11 July 2025
ACAVA Spode Works Studios and Spode Museum, Stoke-on-Trent

Join us for The Butterfly Bush Effect exhibition, celebrating artwork created by local people and artists during a series of free creative workshops this spring at ACAVA Spode Works Studios.

Over six weeks, artists Charne Visser, Joyce Iwaszko, Natasha Mchugh, and Nadine Wilde led hands-on workshops with the local community. Together, they explored the Spode site’s history and environment through drawing, painting, printing, dyeing, embroidery and collage.

From buddleia and butterflies to urban sketches and botanical experiments, the work on display celebrates the heritage of Stoke Town and the people who continue to shape its story through creativity.

The exhibition will take place at ACAVA Spode Works Studios, the surrounding Spode site, and in the Spode Museum.

About the project

The Butterfly Bush Effect is a creative programme bringing together local people and resident artists to reflect on the changing landscape of Stoke Town. Through hands-on sessions, participants were invited to respond to the Spode site’s industrial past and its evolving ecology.

Led by ACAVA artists and supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the project is part of the Stoke High Street Accelerator pilot, funded by the UK Government. Local filmmaker Joe Brennan has documented the process and will be sharing a short film on the exhibition and workshops later this year.

About the artists

All workshops and exhibitions have been led by artists based at ACAVA Spode Works Studios:

Charne Visser: Website / Instagram
Joyce Iwaszko: Website / Instagram
Natasha Mchugh: Instagram
Nadine Wilde: Instagram

The Butterfly Bush Effect is a partnership between ACAVA Studios, Spode Museum, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

For further details, access information, or bookings, please contact:
dan.southward@acava.org

Project partners and supporters

The Butterfly Bush Effect is a collaboration between ACAVA Studios, Spode Museum, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Supported by the Stoke High Street Accelerator pilot, funded by the UK Government via the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

This project has been made possible by individual donors and Stoke Creates, through the Big Give Arts for Impact campaign.