Lunchtime Lecture: “The Ark” Wedgwood and European Refugees, 1933 - 1945

Between 1933-1945, thousands of European refugees escaping Nazi persecution sought refuge in Britain. Due to an apathetic British Government, assistance for refugees was the responsibility of individuals, organisations, and businesses, such as Wedgwood. Unfortunately, their efforts have remained unexplored as have the stories of those arriving into their care. Through archival material and collections of the V&A Wedgwood Collection, this talk will reveal how the Wedgwood Family and Company worked resolutely to help those being oppressed across Central Europe.

Michael Ruddy is an Assistant Curator at the V&A Wedgwood Collection, situated in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. He joined the V&A from Arts Council England, where he worked in the ELU and GIS teams. He has also worked at Leonard Cheshire, supporting the digitisation of the Charity’s historically important sound collection, and at Boughton House cataloguing the Buccleuch Collections. Michael has completed a BA History degree from the University of Derby and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester. In addition to ceramics, his other research interest is the role of museums in social justice and representation.