Free Beginners Ceramics Course 15/03/23 9:30am-4pm The Venue, Stanley

With special thanks to funding from DurhamLearn and the Education and Skills Funding Agency we are delighted to bring you this beginners ceramics course to County Durham residents. 

During the course you will discover how to apply a range of ceramic sculpting, joining and building techniques to create a variety of unique artworks you can take home with you at the end of the course and be proud of. You’ll start by learning rolling, cutting and mark-making, creating your very own bespoke ceramic tiles and coasters. Then you will try your hand at clay pinching techniques, sculpting a trinket bowl or a pot for a living succulent. You’ll learn how to create a forma, creating an inspired sculpture using sculpting techniques. Next you will get the chance to make a 2D slab-rolled decoration, such as a door number plaque. We will then build on your newly-acquired knowledge by helping you to create a 3D slab-rolled item, such as a decorated plant pot or your very own handmade mug. There will also be scope on the course for you to apply a number of the techniques you have developed to create your own inspired piece of work. The course also includes basic glazing techniques, giving you the chance to finish your work before our expert tutors fire it in our specialist ceramic kilns ready for you to collect at the end of the course. Throughout the sessions you will learn some of the science behind working with clay, as well as specialist terms and the basics of how a kiln works. This course is very practically led and we pack a lot in for you to have a go at! It gets fantastic reviews and we are delighted to be able to offer a limited number of places for Durham residents to sign up and have a go.

This is a four day beginners course being delivered one day per week over four weeks, and not a series of drop-in sessions. Before you book your place, please make sure you are able to attend the full course. The course will run on Wednesday 15th March, 22nd March, 29th March and 12th April. There will be no session on Wednesday 5th April. 

Qualifying criteria -

You must be aged 19+. 

You must live in County Durham. 

You can be unemployed, working or retired to take part in our courses.

You must have the right to reside in the UK.