A one-day course designed for anyone setting up their own pottery studio and looking for practical hands-on advice and guidance.
What’s the best system for recycling clay? How much shelving will I need? What goes in a studio risk assessment? Who are good UK suppliers? What size kiln do I need? Do I need three phase electric supply…A pugmill…a slab roller…a spray booth? Where can I get the best buckets?
Many of these questions are answered according to what clay (or clays) you are working with, if you are using the space on your own, or teaching, if you are located in the country with outside space, or in the city. What your budget is, and how much space you have. These variables and many others besides all contribute to how you set up your space and what you put in it. As a result, piecing together how to set up your studio online can be tricky and time consuming.
This one-day course is a practical guide, tailored to you. When you sign up we will send you a questionnaire to find out more about you, your work and your aspirations for your studio. The course structure will then be led by Lara Lloyd, Director of Coombe Farm Studios. At Coombe we run immersive ceramics masterclasses with professional potters year-round, as well as an apprentice technician programme, weekly classes with 40 people per week attending, and a membership scheme.
There will be presentations on specific areas of common interest among the group, as well as breakout sessions clustered into more in-depth discussions. We will also look around the Pottery at Coombe - Why have we set it up this way? It is by no means a perfect space, what are the pros and cons of the space and it’s range of our equipment? What has worked for us over the past 40 years and what hasn’t.?
Two professional potters will also give a short live digital talk outlining the top five things they have learnt about their spaces, followed by a Q&A.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: This course is designed for anyone about to embark sett up, or in the process of setting up, their own pottery studio.
OUTLINE SCHEDULE: 9.30am Arrival. welcome. tea/coffee. 10.00am group session 10.30am-1pm breakout sessions, pottery walkabout & group sessions. 1-2pm Lunch. 2-3pm Speaker presentations. 3-5pm Breakout & group discussions. 5pm finish.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: This is a one day course with no accommodation provided. If you are coming from further afield the nearest train station is Totnes which has a range of good places to stay from The Bull to Dartington or nearby in Tuckenhay at the Maltsters Arms.
COURSE COST: £150 + VAT including lunch, teas/coffees. There is a nonrefundable deposit of £50 payable at the time of booking and the balance due three weeks before the course.
HOW TO GET HERE: Our address is TQ6 0JA [What3words: What3words: fulfilled.exploring.branching] and we have plenty of free onsite parking. Trains > nearest station is Totnes then we can arrange lift shares and/or help arrange a group taxi. We are about 25 minutes from the station.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THE COURSE? Min 6, Max 12.
In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in ceramics and a resulting boom in commercial products on the market. Added to that social media can be an essential tool in selling work and/or class places. These two factors can create pressure when setting up your space, particularly concerning costs and aesthetics, that then impact on the pressure to sell and on your creativity. These issues will also be explored as we discuss what kit you really need, the maintenance costs of your studio and what aesthetics enhance or compromise your creativity.
The course is an introduction to how to set up your space, but by no means can it answer all and every question.
As you start using your space you will refine and adapt it, it’s a lifetime of work to get your studio just right! The idea of the course is however that it is a good strong place to start and an opportunity to meet other potters who are starting out on their studio journey at the same time as you.
There will also be the option after the course to book one, or a series, of paid zoom sessions with Lara to revisit questions and ideas as you start to build your studio.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
All you’ll ned to bring with you is a notebook and if you have them images of your space/spaces and a floor layout.
The total price for this residential course is £150 + VAT (£180) including lunch and teas/coffees.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £50.
The remaining balance (£130) is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone)
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditionsincluding cancellations.
