Clay College

About

Clay College Stoke opened its doors in 2017, with the mission to teach practical pottery skills to an international standard. Located at the historic Middleport Pottery site in Burslem, Clay College offers a range of activities for those interested in making and purchasing artisanal studio ceramics.

 

Clay College Gallery

The Clay College Gallery specialises in work by contemporary British studio potters.  We hold regular selling exhibitions focussing on various techniques, styles and clay bodies such as stoneware, soda-firing, hand-building and slipware.  The college’s full-time students also have the opportunity to exhibit and sell work created during their 2-year Diploma, so you have an opportunity to invest in a piece by a future master potter.

 

Gallery Opening Hours

Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 3pm

Saturday & Sunday: 11am – 3.30pm

 

Taster Sessions

Always wanted to try your hand at pottery? Clay College Stoke runs special taster sessions throughout the year that will give you a taste of throwing on the wheel. Taster sessions are aimed at everyone who wants to have a go, have fun, and get messy!  No previous experience required.  Please see the Clay College Stoke website to book.  Time slot: 2.5 hours.

 

Part-time Courses

If you would like to develop your pottery skills, Clay College Stoke offers regular evening classes throughout term time. Our popular 6-week evening classes focus on either throwing or hand-building skills, helping both beginners and intermediate potters to gain confidence and realise their ideas.

 

Clay College Stoke also offers a range of masterclasses and demonstrations for the public allowing both hobbyists and professionals to learn from world-renowned master potters. Visiting potters have included Florian Gadsby, Clive and Dylan Bowen, Shozo Michikawa, Sabine Nemet and Yo Thom. Upcoming masterclasses are listed on our website.

 

Full-time course

Clay College Stoke’s unique, skills-based, full-time Diploma course offers 14 students the opportunity to study intensively for 2 years in the UK’s pottery capital, Stoke-on-Trent. Students are taught all aspects of making: design, throwing, hand-building, glazing, decoration techniques, kiln-building and firing, augmented by a business module designed to prepare students for a sustainable career after graduation.

 

Clay College Stoke is a not-for-profit organisation and all purchases contribute towards the students’ training, providing funds for masterclasses, trips and materials.