WORKSHOPS

Welcome to the heart of Clay Week, where the vibe is all about connection and growth among pottery pals! Whether you're itching to give the wheel a whirl and dive into production throwing or dreaming of adding some subtle flair to your surfaces, we've got just the thing for you.

This year, we're stoked to welcome an awesome crew of tutors from near and far, each bringing their own special touch to the festival. So take a scroll through our offerings below, find what sparks your interest, and snag your spot before they're all gone!

Trust us, you won't want to miss out on this clay-filled fun.

September 28th — October 04th

Ukupapa - Whanaungatanga, Shellac Resist Water Etching

- Sold Out

Wed. 2nd

&

Dorothy Waetford

1pm - 5pm

 

Join our uku workshop for a fun and collaborative experience creating pinch pots. Learn shellac resist and water etching techniques while fostering connections with others.

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Narrow Slip Brush & Basic Texture Tool

- Sold Out

Wed 2nd October

&

Gemma Stratton

10:00am -– 1:00pm

 

In this workshop you will assemble a Slip brush and a texture tool using locally sourced sticks and tī kōuka leaves. You will learn to prepare fibre, make cordage, basic drilling and a handy Lash.

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Hand Made Wide Slip Brush

- Sold Out

Thurs 03 Oct

&

Gemma Stratton

9:00am - 1:00pm

 

In this workshop you will assemble a wide Whisk style Brush for applying slip or sweeping your (non clay related) work surface. Together we will prepare and dry Tī Kōuka leaves, make string and then assemble the Brush using a basic foot operated tension holder or a friend.

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Slab Building a Wall Shelf

- Sold Out

Fri 04

&

Jaime Jenkins

8am - 12pm

 

Discover the art of crafting a stunning slab-built wall shelf in this hands-on workshop. Learn from expert Jaime as she shares her secrets to creating beautiful and sturdy sculptural pieces.

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Handbuilding for Kids

- Sold Out

Mon 30

&

Tues 01

Jennie Bate

9am - 12pm

 

9am - 12pm

Join skilled teacher Jennie for a morning of clay fun at her studio in Founders Park. Kids will sculpt imaginative pieces and add personal touches to bring their creations to life.

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Findings

- Sold Out

Tues 01

&

Kay van Dyk

9am - 1pm

 

In this class with jeweller Kay van Dyk you will step out of your creative comfort zone and learn to think with the mind of a jeweller. Held at Kay’s amazing jewellery school The Bench, you’ll be in for a fantastic day of creativity.

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Glaze Chemistry: Fixing a Glaze using Glazy.org

- Sold Out

Sun 29 - Mon 30

&

Ronald Boersen

1pm - 5pm

 

1pm - 5pm

Join us for a hands-on glaze workshop where we'll tackle your glaze recipe challenges. Discover the secrets behind successful glazes and gain control over your pottery outcomes. Perfect for experienced potters looking to level up their glazing skills.

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Living on the Edge

- Sold Out

Tues 01

&

Suzy Dunser

8am - 12pm

 

Uncover the secrets of crafting a one-of-a-kind round pot in this hands-on workshop. Learn how to add personality and finesse to your creations with expert techniques.

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Slipcast Mould Making

- Sold Out

Tues 01

&

Sun 29

Tim Grocott

8am - 5pm

 

8am - 5pm

Learn the art of mould-making from the best! Join Tim as he guides you through creating a two-piece mould and pouring your slip. Get hands-on and unleash your creativity!

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Ceramic Watercolours

- Sold Out

Fri 04

&

Yasmin Davis

8am - 12pm

 

Get creative with ceramic watercolours in Yasmin's workshop! Learn her techniques for decorating clay tiles and bring your own bisqued work to adorn. Kits available for purchase.

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High Fire Raku

- Sold Out

Sun 29

&

Aaron Scythe

8am - 12pm

 

Join Aaron in an exciting workshop where you'll explore the fiery world of raku pottery. Learn decorating techniques, witness unique throwing styles, and fire your own teabowls in a thrilling raku kiln experience!

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Composite Forms and Upside Down Thinking

- Sold Out

Sun 29

&

Anneke Borren

8am - 12pm

 

Join Anneke Borren in a captivating workshop that will ignite your creativity. Discover new ways to compose art, decorate with slips and sgraffito, and unleash your artistic expression.

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Production Throwing Workshop

- Sold Out

Thur 03

&

Callum Trudgeon & Matilda Halley

8am - 5pm

 

Elevate your pottery skills with Callum and Matilda. Learn essential techniques to enhance speed and accuracy in a fun and interactive workshop.

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Intensive Coiling Workshop

- Sold Out

Mon 30

&

Carla Ruka

8am - 5pm

 

Master the art of sculptural form creation in our intensive workshop, perfect for artists and clay makers of all levels. Enhance your coiling skills and unleash your creativity!

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The Art of Anagama

- Sold Out

Fri 27 to Tues 01

&

Unloading on Sun. 6th

Darryl Frost

Firing Schedule to be decided.

 

Experience the magic of wood-kiln firing in this hands-on workshop. Learn expert techniques for loading and firing, and create stunning pottery with unique and captivating finishes.

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Kurinuki Vessels

- Sold Out

Sun 29

&

Mon 30

Elena Renker

8am - 12pm

 

1pm - 5pm

Join Elena Renker for a hands-on workshop and learn the art of Kurinuki, a traditional Japanese clay sculpting technique. Create unique vessels and explore your creativity!

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Slab Dog Building

- Sold Out

Mon 30

&

Tues 01

Fiona Tunicliff

8am - 12pm

 

1pm - 5pm

Get hands-on with clay and discover the secrets of creating lifelike animal sculptures. Master anatomy, proportions, and texture manipulation in this fun and informative workshop.

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The Paper Clay Revolution

- Sold Out

Tues 01

&

Graham Hay

8am - 12pm

 

Discover the magic of paper clay in a fun and interactive workshop. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists, learn essential techniques and unleash your creativity with this versatile medium.

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Tea Bowls from Wild Clay

- Sold Out

Fri 04

&

Hamish Jackson

8am - 5pm

 

Get your hands dirty and create your own one-of-a-kind tea bowl at this workshop. Learn the art of pinching and carving while enjoying a matcha tea ceremony with Hamish.

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Creating Balance

- Sold Out

Tues 01

&

Holly Rose-Morgan & Pamela Ansouth

8am - 12pm

 

Join Pamella and Holly for a fun-filled workshop! Discover the magic of form and creative freedom as you create beautiful pottery and sculptures. Get ready for a joyful adventure of laughter and endless creativity!

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Befriending Asymmetry

- Sold Out

Thur 03

&

Jack Troy

8am - 5pm

 

Join Jack Troy's transformative workshop, challenging conventional clay approaches. Explore throwing enclosed forms, shaping them into organic and geometric designs. Enhance your creativity and expand your artistic vocabulary.

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Rock Glazes

- Sold Out

Sun 29

&

Mon 30

Janeen Page

8am - 4pm

 

9am - 3:30pm

Join Janeen for a fun and educational workshop! Explore Nelson's hidden gems, learn about glaze development, and discover the secrets of New Zealand rock glazes.

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The TeePee Kiln

- Sold Out

Mon 30

&

Janet Smith & Maureen Alison

8am - 5pm

 

Experience the magic of kiln firing in our enriching workshop! Create unique pottery infused with vibrant colors and textures using innovative techniques and materials. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the ancient craft of pottery making.

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Getting Started with Glaze Development

- Sold Out

Mon 30

&

Thurs 03

Karuna Douglas

1pm - 5pm

 

8am -12pm

Join Glaze Mistress Karuna on a colorful adventure! Discover the secrets of glaze development in this immersive 2-day workshop.

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Wild Clay for Beginners

- Sold Out

Mon 30

&

Wed 02

Marama Myrick

8am - 12pm

 

8am - 12pm

Learn all about the secrets of amazing clay in this fun workshop! Find out how to spot, handle, and test wild clay without harming your kiln. Plus, get creative with additives and wild clay slips!

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Clay Mono-Printing

- Sold Out

Tues 01

&

Mon 30

Richard Stratton

1pm - 5pm

 

8am — 12pm

Join Richard in a hands-on clay monoprinting workshop and bring your designs to life on clay. Explore your creativity and create one-of-a-kind art pieces.

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Pottery Improvisation - Working with Premade Components

- Sold Out

Wed 02

&

Scott Brough

1pm - 5pm

 

Discover a liberating workshop where you'll break free from expectations. Join us for creative exercises and games, building unique structures as a group and individually. Perfect for those with basic handbuilding experience.

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Carving Stories into Clay

- Sold Out

Wed 02

&

Thurs 03

Stevei Houkāmau

8am -12pm

 

8am - 12pm

Join Stevei for a hands-on workshop where you'll shape and mark your own unique kakano (seeds) with personal stories. Explore Māori heritage and transform your creation into wearable taonga (treasures).

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VENUE MAP

Zoom out to see all workshop venues.

While we strive to make Clay Week as inclusive as possible, unfortunatly a few of our venues are not accessible. Nelson Community Potters, Kiln Studio & Frost and Fire Studio are not what we consider accessible. The Suter Art Galery, NMIT and Potters Square will be accesible. Events held at Kiln Studio downstairs will also be accesible.

Accessibility

Refund Policy

We understand that sometimes plans change, and we want to ensure a fair and transparent process for all attendees of our festival. Please review the following refund policy:

  1. Refund Eligibility:
    • Full refunds minus booking fees will be issued for cancellations made up to four weeks before the scheduled workshop or event.
    • Cancellations made between two and four weeks before the event will be eligible for a 50% refund.
    • Cancellation requests made within two weeks of the event will not be eligible for a refund.
  2. Cancellation by Attendees:
    • Attendees must notify us of any cancellation requests within the designated refund period.
    • Cancellation requests made outside of the refund period will not be eligible for a refund.
  3. Cancellation by Festival Organisers:
    • In the unlikely event that a workshop or event is cancelled by the festival organisers, attendees will be notified promptly.
    • Refunds for cancelled workshops or events will be processed automatically, and attendees will have the option to receive a full refund or transfer their registration to another available workshop or event.
  4. Refund Processing Time:
    • Please allow up to 10 working days for refunds to be processed and reflected in your account.
  5. Contact Information:
    • For refund requests or further assistance, please contact [email protected] with your registration details.

By registering for our festival, attendees acknowledge and agree to abide by the terms of this refund policy. We strive to provide a positive and enjoyable experience for all participants and appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Clay Week reserves the right to update or modify this refund policy at any time without prior notice. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website or other official channels.

Keep in the loop

We regularly post updates, important changes and related content on our Instagram so follow us to keep up to date!

Arts Council Nelson proudly presents Clay Week in association with Kiln and thank our valued sponsors.

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