Wheel Intro Workshop

A 2-hour wheel-throwing taster class, perfect for complete beginners!



2 hours

Class size 1 to 5 (public classes), 4 to 10

  £45 - £48 (£48 per guest when you book for 1+ guests, £45/guest for 6+ guests) (PayPal Pay in 3 available)

In this ceramics taster class in Manchester, you'll be guided through the process of throwing clay on a potter's wheel. You'll have a wheel to yourself for the duration of the class and as much clay as you need to experiment and get messy!
Don't worry if you've never tried throwing before, our wheel intro sessions are designed for complete beginners. In a small group of 5, you'll have plenty of assistance from your tutor, Georgie.
At the end of the class, you'll be able to choose your 2 favourite pieces to be glazed and fired. You can choose a glaze colour for each one and you'll need to come back and pick these up 3-4 weeks after the class finishes. If you don't live in Manchester, we can arrange postage for an additional £5 payable on the day.
Suitable for ages 12+ if attending with an adult.
What you'll get
  • Choose 2 items made on the day to be glazed and fired.
  • These will need to be collected approximately 3-4 weeks after the workshop.
Read more details   
Knowledge required
Beginner friendly.
What to bring
Wear everyday clothes that wash easily, tie long hair back, and it's best to have short nails.
Make sure you read the info pdf provided to you - you'll need it to find us!
We also have further info on our Instagram @familiastudiosmcr to help you get to the studio
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, birthday or hen do.

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 10 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum or gift for couples.


FAQ

Can we make whatever we want?
Yes and no. We'll show you the steps involved in making a pot and we'll show you how you can alter the shape to create different forms. There is no set shape that you 'have to' make during the class - we encourage you to play around and see what happens. However, it's important to know that wheel throwing is more difficult than it looks, and 2-hours is really no way near enough time to fully master the skill (it's called a taster class for a reason!) On your first time, it's totally normal to not have much control over the clay and the wheel. We always think it's better to come to the class ready to let go, enjoy the journey, and not get too hung up about creating a specific item. Our guests regularly make cups, dishes, mini vases, incense holders, egg cups and more. (The only item that we would say no to is plates larger than 10cm diameter, because this is considered an intermediate form.)
I've heard that pottery can explode in the kiln, what happens if my piece explodes?
Pottery usually explodes because it has not been left to dry fully before it goes into the kiln. This is why we allow 3-4 weeks to have your pots ready, so that we're not rushing the process, therefore reducing the chances of explosions. We are experienced teachers and when you're selecting the pots you'd like to be fired, we will let you know if any are unlikely to survive the kiln (usually because they are too thick or too thin). Minor imperfections occur all the time in pottery, if your piece grows a small crack in the kiln, it might just mean that you need to use your item for dry flowers, rather than as a pouring jug, or similar. We do not offer any refunds or compensation for such occurrences. It's really really unlikely that your pieces are subject to serious damage like an explosion. If this does happen we will be in touch with you to discuss a suitable replacement item or class.
Location

Familia Studios (Unit 4B, Universal Building) - Universal Building, 37 - 49 Devonshire Street North, Manchester

It's around 20 minutes walk from Manchester Piccadilly, 10 minutes by bus, or 5 minutes by taxi. If you've been to a gig at the Apollo, or played football at the 5-a-side pitches nearby, you might know that parking in the area is tricky at all times! There is a 24hr staffed car park on site (it's charged at a flat rate of £5 and is cash only) as well as a single yellow lines on Higher Ardwick, and unrestricted parking on Temperance Street and Great Western Street. Starling Bike stations are also located right outside on Chancellor Lane.

Wheel Intro Workshop location
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Your teacher

Familia Studios
Familia Studios

5.0 (29)
female Women-owned

My name is Georgie Dixon, I'm a ceramics artist based in Manchester and I've taught pottery wheel classes and hand-building workshops for over 10 years in Brighton, Melbourne, Australia and Manchester.
I have recently opened Familia Studios, a pottery school in Ardwick, Manchester. We host 2 hour wheel intro classes, 6-week course, a Friday night Ceramics Social and seasonal one-off workshops centred around specific themes.
The friendly space at Familia Studios is big, open and thoughtfully designed - perfect for a party or special day out.

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class 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 production manchester Manchester North West GB manchester