Final preparations are currently taking place in St Ives as the internationally renowned Leach Pottery prepares for its reopening at the beginning of March, following a £1.7m transformation.

The pottery's founder, Bernard Leach, was one of the great figures of 20th Century art, playing a crucial pioneering role in developing ceramics in Britain and around the world.

Now, following a sympathetic redevelopment, Leach Pottery will once again become an international centre with the creation of a new pottery training and business incubation facility, education resources and a showcase gallery, all of which will celebrate the life, work, influences and legacy of its famous creator.

Bernard Leach was born in the East and educated in the West. As he trained first as an artist in London and then as a potter in Japan he became fascinated by the two cultures that seemed so different. His continued work and experience in Japan and Korea and the establishment of the Leach Pottery in St Ives in 1920 led to the development of his reputation as a key pioneering figure in the ceramics world.

Collaborating with a young Japanese potter, Shoji Hamada, Leach built the first oriental climbing kiln in the West. Over the course of fifty years Leach taught, wrote and trained other potters in the great art, combining Japanese and European aesthetics through his work.

Today, many international links are still in existence between Leach Pottery and Japan in particular.

Lady Carol Holland, Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Limited: "The Leach Pottery will once again become a place where quality work is made, young potters are inspired and trained, and visitors are introduced to the Leach heritage and the significance of ceramics in the cultural world of today."

Although there are some notable public collections of Leach pots at the Crafts Study Centre, Farnham and the Victoria & Albert Museum, most of his work is now in private hands. His is the pre-eminent name for any serious collector of studio pottery and the Pottery in St Ives is the place where most of this work was created and thus bears the valued St Ives mark.

The £1.7m rejuvenation of studios and workshops will therefore recreate, re-establish and develop the quality and reputation of the original Leach Pottery by developing Leach's ethos and securing his legacy in a modern context.

Through a partnership with University College Falmouth, the new development will enable students to work alongside established craftspeople to develop their techniques, and Leach Pottery will provide a high level of skills training in a supportive atmosphere.

All aspects of the potter's trade will be covered, including design, production, marketing and exhibition. Leach Pottery will also mentor business start-ups and provide studio space for emerging talent.

The redevelopment of the new site has sympathetically restored the Leach cottage and old pottery; both Grade II listed buildings. The climbing kiln, a scheduled monument, is now fully protected from the elements by a carefully restored roof and the original workshops have been preserved. The soot-blackened roof over the kilns, the fireplace beside which Bernard Leach gave his critiques and all the equipment, including the chart of test tiles, remains almost untouched.

Drawing on Japanese influences, the new pottery studio building on its stilts and simple cube gallery, connected to the historic buildings with wooden walkways, link the pottery's past with its future.

The transformation has been made possible as a result of funding and support from, amongst others, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, Arts Council England South West, the Rural Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Partnership, Penwith District Council, Cornwall County Council and St. Ives Town Council.

Significant funds have also been raised from trusts and foundations, membership subscriptions and by the local Leach Pottery Support Group and it is expected that the rejuvenated pottery and visitor attraction will host up 30,000 visitors per year.

Leach Pottery has scored a significant coup in attracting Jack Doherty, the chairman of the Craft Potters Association of Great Britain and the organising committee of Ceramic Art London, as its new Lead Potter. His work is exhibited widely, winning gold medals at international exhibitions and his involvement with the education and training of potters includes lecturing, specialist conferences, mentoring and leading workshops in many countries.

Jack will take up residence in Bernard Leach's old studio and will direct the educational and developmental work of Leach Pottery as well as creating and showcasing his own work. Joining him as director of Leach Pottery is Julia Twomlow, formerly a creative industries consultant with Perfect Moment Consultancy and director of the Acorn Theatre in Penzance.

In 2004, Julia was awarded one of the first Fellowships on the Clore Leadership Programme, set up by Dame Vivien Duffield and run by Lord Smith of Finsbury.

A series of special events is planned for the opening on Thursday March 6th 2008 when notable guests will include the Japanese Ambassador His Excellency Mr Yoshiji Nogami, who is coming to Cornwall especially for the launch. The ribbon will be cut by John Leach, the eldest grandson of Bernard Leach, and Tomoo Hamada, grandson of Shoji Hamada to recall the original days of the pottery.

There will also be a reception evening at the Guildhall with a talk by acclaimed Leach biographer Dr Emmanuel Cooper, John Leach and Professor Simon Olding, director of the Crafts Study Centre, University College of the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey. Leach Pottery will then be open to local residents for a free one-off special on Friday 7th March before fully opening to the general public on Saturday 8th March.

Lady Carol Holland, chairman of the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Limited, says: "The local and international influence and stature of Bernard Leach is undeniable. He was a man who, through his life, his work and his writings, has made a unique contribution to our cultural heritage, to the development of the art of ceramics and to the careers of many potters.

"He had high standards and was sometimes a tough judge, but I hope that, if he could see it, this living and working commemoration to all that he stood for would meet with his approval. The Leach Pottery will once again become a place where quality work is made, young potters are inspired and trained, and visitors are introduced to the Leach heritage and the significance of ceramics in the cultural world of today."