Adult Programs
Medalta’s adult pottery courses are great opportunities to explore your creativity and use your hands to create something of your own. Whether the only clay you’ve ever touched was dug out of your backyard when you were five years old or you’re an experienced potter, these classes are for you.
8-WEEK ADULT POTTERY CLASSES*
8-Week Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Handbuilding
- Our 8-Week Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building class will cover a variety of basic pottery techniques for throwing on the wheel and hand-building. The class is designed to help you feel comfortable working with clay regardless of which method you’re using. Each week, the instructor will go through a new aspect of the process including: centering, pulling, trimming, and glazing. The 8-Week course allows registrants to go through the timeline twice and, by repeating the process, have more opportunities to develop the basic skills. Each stage of the process provides an expanded approach to materials, equipment, techniques, and processes of ceramics — with an emphasis on having fun and learning new things!
8- Week Introductory Hand Building: Coils, Slabs, and More!
- We’re excited to offer another session of “Introductory Hand Building” — in this class, you will focus exclusively on ceramics without a wheel and learn how to build with your hands using techniques like coil and slab building. This is a great class for someone looking to try something new and dedicate themselves to using new methods to build cups, vessels, and small sculptures! *NO WHEEL THROWING*
8- Week Intermediate Pottery: Throwing on the Wheel *NEW CLASS*
- Are you looking to push past the basics and develop your ceramic skills? Then our Intermediate Pottery: Throwing class is perfect for you. The class will expand on the basics of centering and throwing, and explore more complicated forms and techniques. Individuals looking to register should already feel comfortable centering, opening up forms, and trimming pieces. We recommend that you have taken three Introductory pottery classes at Medalta or have the equivalent experience in a private or community studio.
*Students enrolled in our 8-week Classes will soon be able to register for supplementary studio hours. Details are provided below (See “Supplementary Studio Hours”), and registration will open in the coming weeks. Students in the 8-week course will receive an email notification once the ‘Supplementary Studio Hours’ registration is live.
| Monday (8 classes) |
January 13 – March 10 (No Class Feb 17th) |
6:30 – 9:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building | L. Brandson |
| Tuesday (8 classes) |
January 14 – March 4 | 6:30 – 9:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building | S. Smith |
| Wednesday (8 classes) |
January 15 – March 5 | 6:30 – 9:30 PM | Introductory Hand Building: Coils, Slabs, and More! | M. Barnett |
| Thursday (8 classes) |
January 16 – March 6 | 6:30 – 9:30 PM | Intermediate Pottery: Throwing on the Wheel | E. Anderson |
Pricing: $290 + GST = $304.50 (One bag of clay is included in the registration fee. Extra clay can be purchased from Medalta for $20 a bag (GST included.) All tools can be used on site; no purchase of tools necessary.)
Minimum enrollment: 6 students per class
Maximum enrollment: 12 students per class
Registration Deadline: Two weeks before class start date
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Before Class Start Date, a full refund (less a $25 administration fee) is available if you cancel by the registration deadline. For cancellations after the registration deadline or no-shows, we will be unable to issue any refund. If you need to cancel due to medical reasons (documentation required), a partial refund will be given.
4-WEEK ADULT POTTERY CLASSES
4-Week Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building
- Our 4-Week Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Handbuilding class will cover a variety of basic pottery techniques for throwing on the wheel and hand-building. The class is designed to help you feel comfortable working with clay regardless of which method you’re using. Each week, the instructor will go through a new aspect of the process including: centering, pulling, trimming, and glazing. Each stage of the process provides an expanded approach to materials, equipment, techniques and processes of ceramics, with an emphasis on having fun and learning new things!
4- Week: Building Ceramic Botanicals
- Meld your love of all things clay and plants in this four-week focused ceramics course! In Ceramic Botanicals you will learn to sculpt intricate florals, leaves, and other organic forms in a variety of styles and applications. This sculpture-based course invites students at all levels of ceramic experience. This course is perfect for those looking to approach ceramics in a new way, or those who want to learn new skills and techniques. Overall, in this course students will learn to hone in on finer details and organic forms and patterns to create intricate and beautiful objects. Students can expect to leave this class with 2-4 completed pieces.
| Saturday (4 Classes) |
February 1 – February 22 | 12:30 – 3:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Ceramic Botanicals | M. Barnett |
| Saturday (4 Classes) |
March 8 – March 29 | 12:30 – 3:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building | TBD |
Pricing: $165 + GST = $173.25 (one bag of clay included, each additional clay bag is $20)
Minimum enrollment: 6 students per class
Maximum enrollment: 12 students per class
Registration Deadline: Two weeks before class start date
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Before Class Start Date, a full refund (less a $25 administration fee) is available if you cancel by the registration deadline. For cancellations after the registration deadline or no-shows, we will be unable to issue any refund. If you need to cancel due to medical reasons (documentation required), a partial refund will be given.
Supplementary Studio Hours * NEW CLASS*
REGISTRATION OPENING SOON
We are now offering additional studio hours for participants registered in any Spring 2025 8-week class. If you’re looking for extra time outside of the weekly classroom hours, then consider also registering for one of our “Supplementary Studio Hours” sessions. This course is an extension to the 8-week Adult classes that run from Monday – Thursday. You must be registered in an active 8-week Spring course in order to register for the Supplementary Studio Hours.
There won’t be any formal demonstrations, but instead, these sessions offer self-guided time to improve your technique, build your confidence, and complete unfinished pieces. An instructor will be on-site for the duration of the class to help with any questions you might have. Enrollment is for 5 sessions and each session is three hour — participants should note that registration applies to a specific time slot and is not transferable to other sessions.
| Day | Date | Time | Type | Instructor |
| Sunday
(5 classes) |
January 26 – Feb 23 | 9:00AM -12:00PM | Supplementary Studio Hours | S. Smith |
| Sunday (5 classes) | January 26 – Feb 23 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM | Supplementary Studio Hours | S. Smith |
| Sunday (5 classes) | January 26 – Feb 23 | 5:00 – 8:00 PM | Supplementary Studio Hours | TBD |
Pricing: $190 per person + GST = $199.50 (one bad of clay included, each additional clay bag is $20)
Minimum enrollment: 6 students per class
Maximum enrollment: 12 students per class
Registration Deadline: Two weeks before class start date
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Before Class Start Date, a full refund (less a $25 administration fee) is available if you cancel by the registration deadline. For cancellations after the registration deadline or no-shows, we will be unable to issue any refund. If you need to cancel due to medical reasons (documentation required), a partial refund will be given.
Saturday ‘Sampler’
Low commitment and a great way to test out wheel throwing without an 8 week commitment! Grab your significant other, mom & dad, or some girlfriends for this super fun & relaxed ‘sampler’ class. Commit to three hours of just one day, and try the potter’s wheel out, you might get sucked in and take a longer class! Your instructor will get you throwing on the wheel. Keep one of your best pieces to bisque and glaze, or you can keep it to glaze in an 8-week course. Pieces will be available for pick up three to four weeks after classes.
Price: $65.00 + GST = $68.25 (All supplies included. Work will be fired and glazed to take home.)
Registration deadline: Two weeks before the class start date
Minimum enrollment: 6 per class; Maximum enrollment: 12 per class
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Before Class Start Date: A full refund (less a $25 administration fee) is available if you cancel by the registration deadline. After Class Start Date: For cancellations after the registration deadline or no-shows, we will be unable to issue any refund. If you need to cancel due to medical reasons (documentation required), a partial refund will be given.
| Day | Date | Time | Type | Instructor |
| Saturday | January 25 | 12:30 – 3:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and
Hand Building |
L. Brandson |
| Saturday | March 1 | 12:30 – 3:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and
Hand Building |
L. Brandson |
| Saturday | April 5 | 12:30 – 3:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and
Hand Building |
L. Brandson |
Date Night Pottery Class
While we love re-enactments of the pottery scene from “Ghost”, acting skills are not
necessary and we’ll keep the romantic lighting to a minimum for our one night potter class!
Grab your partner, your mom, a friend, (anyone!) for this fun and relaxed night out with
wine, nibbles, and clay. Your instructor will get you throwing on the wheel so you can each
have a piece to take home to remind you of the night! Work will take two to four weeks to be
fired, all participants will be notified when work is ready for pick-up
Price: $75 +GST per person = $78.75 (All supplies, glass of wine or beer, and snacks are included. Additional drinks are $6 per drink) Please note this price is per person – not per couple.
Registration Deadline: Two weeks before class start date
Minimum enrollment: 6 per class; Maximum enrollment: 12 per class
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Before Class Start Date: A full refund (less a $25 administration fee) is available if you cancel by the registration deadline. After Class Start Date: For cancellations after the registration deadline or no-shows, we will be unable to issue any refund. If you need to cancel due to medical reasons (documentation required), a partial refund will be given.
| Day | Date | Time | Type | Instructor |
| Friday | January 24 | 7:30 – 9:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building | S. Smith |
| Friday | February 28 | 7:30 – 9:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building | L. Brandson |
| Friday | April 4 | 7:30 – 9:30 PM | Beginner Pottery: Throwing and Hand Building | S. Smith |
PRIVATE POTTERY EXPERIENCES
Private bookings require a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 12. We require they must be booked at least 4-6 weeks in advance and it is dependent on the availability of the instructor.
For inquiries about booking a private pottery experience, please contact residencies@medalta.org.
