Special Offer
Wheel Taster Class
(+2 more dates)
Description
Come "Taste" the clay! Come try your hand!
This is a single session 2-hour taster class and will give you an introduction of what it’s like to learn to use the pottery wheel. You'll be surprised that most people can learn the basics and make quite respectable small pots even if they’ve never done it before!
By attending a Taster Class you are eligible to receive a discount on any of our weekly classes (conditions apply)
The content will give you a great introduction to clay and to our studio so you can decide if you wish to join a weekly class later. The fee covers your tuition and includes glazing and firing for two pieces to keep. We will glaze and fire them for you to collect a few weeks later*. We will then notify your group to collect your pieces so please make sure your email is correct and you list our email in your contacts too as we are not responsible if it goes through to your Junk box and you don't see it! We will not hold them longer than one month, sorry.
What to bring: Please bring an old hand towel or apron. We don't supply them because our washing machine cannot keep up with it all!
What to wear: old comfy clothes and enclosed shoes that you don’t mind getting a bit of clay on. No whites and no stilettos please!
Cancellations: We occasionally need to cancel a class if bookings are low. In this case we will always offer an alternative date or offer a full refund. However, if you cancel please understand we will not be able to refund you. If we (or you) can find a replacement then we will create a credit coupon for you which is valid for three years.
Transfers: We understand shit happens and life gets busy so if you give us two week's notice we can often transfer you to another date. However, we cannot transfer you within that period unless we have a replacement for you. You are welcome to find a replacement yourself for no fee, just let us know Their contact details. Please ask if we have someone on the waiting list. There is a $25 fee for all transfers.
*Disclaimer: please note that due to the nature of clay and firing, occasionally a piece won't make it through the kiln due to cracking in the drying/firing process.
What you will learn
- Experience an activity that is social and creative - book your friends in too!
- A great introduction to basic wheel throwing skills
- Participants will have fun learning new skills on the potter's wheel
What you will get
- Meet ceramic artists that will coach you!
- Collect your glazed pieces a few weeks later!
- Doing this class will give you a discount to enrol in our weekly classes!
What to bring
- apron
- hand towel
- comfortable clothes
- camera
What to wear
Leave your stilettos & party clothes at home! Comfortable clothes, enclosed shoes, apron
Appropriate for
Students who have none or a little experience with clay and ceramics will find this a great introduction.
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.
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.
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:
- Deposit or full payment (depending on the course/workshop/event) must be made at the time of booking
- 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
- There is a $25 fee for transfer or credit note and you must pay any fee difference if the new course price is higher
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Teaching fees are fully inclusive of materials but students will incur a single firing fee based on the current cost (advised in your class)
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- Please sign-in and sign-out your children
- Please respect our teachers and be prompt to arrive and to collect your children (within 5 minutes of class time)
- 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.
Thanks so much Fiona!