or three months, from July to August 2008, I undertook a McKnight Artists Residency for Ceramic Artists, awarded by the Northern Clay Centre (NCC), Minneapolis, MN, US. I was also supported in this residency by a Mid-Career Fellowship from the WA Department for Culture and the Arts. I originally became aware of the NCC in 2002 when participating in the Upper St Croix Valley Studio Tour, Minnesota. I was invited to participate by Jeff Oestreich, and was based at his studio, about an hour’s drive north of Minneapolis. Whilst there I visited the NCC a couple of times and was very impressed with the facilities and the very professional promotion of all aspects of ceramics.