Holiday Studio Access Times (HSATs)
Holiday Studio Access Times (HSATs)

Holiday Studio Access Times (HSATs)


what students are saying

🎨 Creative Escape 🤝 Supportive Staff 🌿 Relaxing Atmosphere ⏰ Flexible Access

Welcome to independent studio time for our pottery community! Holiday Studio Access Times (HSATs) offer experienced students the opportunity to work independently in our studio during the holiday break, using all our facilities including clay and glazes.

Who can book: HSATs are designed for students who have previously taken classes at Slow Clay and are familiar with our studio practices. New students are welcome but must contact us at [email protected] or 99437844 before booking to arrange an orientation.

Important: This is independent studio time only. Students work on their own projects from start to finish, we recommend planning on at least 3 sessions to throw, trim and glaze your work.. If you're looking for guidance, instruction, or assistance completing your work, our Friday evening Wheel Taster classes would be a better fit.

Critical Timing Information - Please Read Carefully

FINAL HSAT BISQUE FIRING:  Saturday 4 October
FINAL HSAT GLAZE FIRING: Saturday 11 October

All work must be completed within this firing schedule. Students not returning next term must finish and collect all pieces during the holiday period. 

Discount offers available: We offer discounts when booking 4-6 sessions at a time. Email [email protected] or phone 99437844 for details and booking assistance.

Studio Guidelines

  1. Materials: Unlimited studio clay (Bennett's) and studio glazes available for NON-COMMERCIAL use only.

  2. Studio atmosphere: This is focused work time. Please keep conversations to a minimum and move outside for extended discussions to respect others' concentration.

  3. Storage: We have limited storage space and do not allow work over 30cm.

  4. Firing costs: $20/kg for all firings (payment due on collection)

  5. Collection: Finished pieces must be collected within one week of firing notification.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 99437844 before booking.

Enjoy your creative time at Slow Clay!

*Terms and conditions:

  • Cancellations: If you need to cancel we can transfer you to a future date for no fee but you must let us know at least 24 hours beforehand. If you don’t tell us then we won’t transfer you. No refunds given.
  • Please note: We reserve the right to cancel SATs at short notice (if staff are sick for example) or when workshops or events take priority. If we cancel we will always SMS you and provide a full refund or transfer you.
  • Bookings: Bookings are required and payments made in advance.
  • Beginners: If you are a complete beginner this is not for you, sorry! There are no teachers.

Details
3 hours

You will learn

  • Use our studio to create new work or just practice your skills!
  • ...and/or enjoy some quiet studio time to explore new directions...

You will get

  • Time, time, time!
  • Full use of our facilities
  • Unlimited house clay and glazes (Bennett's Midfire Cone 8)

Appropriate for

Students to practise, learn and make new work. Strictly for non-commercial quantities.


Preparation

What to bring

  • clean apron
  • clean hand towel
  • Your own tools (or use our's)

What to wear

Comfortable clothes, enclosed shoes


Your Teacher
Slow Clay Centre

Slow Clay Centre

1171 reviews

Escape to Slow Clay Centre and learn the art, craft and design of expression in clay. 

Slow Clay Centre is one of the most highly regarded specialist ceramics/pottery schools in Australia. We aim to give you THE BEST experience learning our ancient craft and our longevity stands for this with thousands of students who have learnt from us! 

We welcome all levels from kids and beginners adults taster classes to advanced professional development and mentoring. 

Our weekly students receive priority to re-enrol each term and take advantage of our generous loyalty program providing free studio access in between classes (conditions apply). In this way we can help you to develop your skills to a high level like no other school. 

Our unique "Slow Clay" (TM) method for teaching the pottery wheel, established by Slow Clay Centre director and ceramic artist Jane Sawyer, has been taught for more than thirty years. Based on the Japanese techniques Jane studied training as a production thrower in Japan in combination with western techniques, the "Slow Clay" method offers a synthesis of East and West. It provides ergonomic best-practice and a solid foundation for personal expression and confidence with clay. 

All our courses offer a foundation of skill-based learning within a rich framework of contemporary art and design enquiry so you can follow your interests. Our ultimate aim is to help you achieve whatever your personal goals are with clay!

Based in a beautiful inner-city studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia, the Slow Clay team consists of leading professional ceramic artists and experienced teachers who offer high-level teaching in a broad variety of topics - see our web site for teacher profiles. Together with guest professional artists who host workshops and forums, we are a vibrant community and wish to share our passion for clay with everyone who is keen, no matter what level.


4.9 (26 reviews)
Kate
Oct 2025
I love this place! It is kept so clean and tidy and welcoming - I come in and just feel myself relax! I have done two terms of classes with lovely Sabrina who is the most kind, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher. As a beginner I was taught at a pace I could handle and now have a solid base of skills from which to build.
Andrea
Sep 2025
I loved doing the SAT class. There were just a few of us and we were happy chatting and getting on with our projects. A great time to catch on more ceramic time.
Bronny
Jan 2025
Rating Only

Terms

Cancellations & Refunds

If the organiser cancels the class:

You are entitled to a full refund.

If you can't attend the class:

You’re welcome to send someone in your place.

OR

  • A transfer can be requested 14 days before the class starts. An admin fee of AU$25.00 applies.
  • A credit note can be requested 14 days before the class starts. An admin fee of AU$25.00 applies.

No changes will be allowed after these times.

We recommend the refund upgrade option upon checkout in case you’re not able to attend the class. Learn more about refund upgrade option.

Terms & Conditions

Welcome to Slow Clay Centre!

We aim to give you the best experience learning ceramics! Each course may have slightly different terms but these are our generic ones: please read carefully:  

General: 

These apply to all Slow Clay Centre courses, workshops and events:

  1. Deposit or full payment (depending on the course/workshop/event) must be made at the time of booking
  2. Please choose carefully. Due to our limited class sizes once you've booked and paid either the deposit or the full fee we will only refund what you have paid if the class is cancelled by us. If you are unable to attend you may transfer your booking to a friend for no charge or, provided we can fill your place, we can sometimes transfer you to another class or hold your payment in credit for up to 24 months for a future course
  3. There is a $25 fee for transfer or credit note and you must pay any fee difference if the new course price is higher 
  4. Please note: All students will receive a reminder between three weeks and/or one week (depending on the course)  before the start date with a link to pay any remaining balance with your credit card. Students who paid the deposit online will have the balance automatically deducted. Others will need to click on the link provided or ring our office on 99437844.
  5. Due to our limited class sizes, if your balance is not received three weeks before the start date and you have not made arrangements with us, we reserve the right to find a replacement student and your deposit will be  forfeited


Weekly classes: These additional conditions apply to all Slow Clay Centre weekly classes.

  1. Please note that making ceramics, particularly on the pottery wheel,  can be a physically demanding activity. If you have any pre-existing illnesses and/or chronic injuries to your back, shoulders, hips, neck, wrists or elbows we strongly advise you to seek a medical opinion before enrolling as some activities might exacerbate past injuries and we take no responsibility if this occurs. 
  2. We ask that you fully disclose any prior and/or ongoing illnesses or injuries that could affect you before you enrol AND inform your teacher in person during the first class. 
  3. Your enrolment is conditional on your acceptance that Slow Clay Centre and/or the company's employees, whether casual, contract, or permanently employed, are indemnified against any exacerbation of any past or any new injuries that may arise as a result of your activites.
  4. All work made during classes is to be used for personal, non-commercial purposes. This is individually negotiable for advanced students or for studio exhibitions but we ask students to accept that the emphasis of our classes is strictly on education not studio production. If you sell your work made using our materials you must acknowledge Slow Clay Centre and also ensure you have your own product liability insurance
  5. Teaching fees are fully inclusive of materials but students will incur a single firing fee based on the current cost (advised in your class) 
  6. Please note: we encourage judicious selection of your work to fire. Firing is always optional and all clay is recycled until the first firing. After that you must pay the firing fee for everything that gets fired. If it cracks, glaze drips, or you just don't like it, you are still required to pay the firing fee unless the fault is caused by us.
  7. Collection of fired pieces: Please understand that our storage capacity is extremely limited. Students will be notified via email when work is ready to be collected. Work will only be retained for two weeks following notification. 


Regarding Kids Clay Club: 

  1. It is your responsibility to clearly report in writing on the enrolment form, any illness, allergies or disability that may affect your child's involvement in the Clay Club activities.
  2. Please sign-in and sign-out your children
  3. Please respect our teachers and be prompt to arrive and to collect your children (within 5 minutes of class time)
  4. Children are expected to be mature enough to follow instructions, to work in a group together, to respect everyone's needs and differences and to be polite to everyone.

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