The Village Potters Independent Study & Mentoring Program in CLAY, Now Accepting Applications for November 1 Entry!

Our Independent Study & Mentoring Program (ISM) is a directed mentorship program for both the developing potters, as well as, serious hobby artists who want to refine his or her skills. The ISM Program is specifically designed to offer a non-traditional/relational experience to help the potters hone current skills, develop new ones, and if desired, make the move into a career in clay with a thorough understanding of what it take to run a creative business.

The ISM Program includes a fully equipped pottery studio with wheels, slab roller, bisque kilns, personal shelving, extruder, oxidation kilns, gas reduction kilns, raku kiln, and access to our newest kiln, a Kazegama wood ash kiln. Students have access to the studio Monday – Sunday, and in addition to paying a monthly program fee students must provide their own personal tools and bats. Students also purchase their own clay, from a list of Laguna clays that The Village Potters sells, and pay firing fees.

There are community firings scheduled (Kazegama and Raku) where students are invited to participate. Students will experience loading kilns, firing, unloading, and assessing firings with discussions. Other firings are reserved by individual students after specific studio/kiln training has occurred, and students may also have access to the glaze mixing kitchen after proper training in that area.

The ISM Program includes pairing students with a mentor that rotates quarterly. Invitations to 1-hour Lunch & Learns about every 2 months where a specific arts business topic is presented. Various 30-60 minute clay demonstrations are offered by mentors on a monthly basis. Tuition includes automatic registration to The Village Potters’ Master Series workshops that occur every two months throughout the year. The Master Series Workshop program is open to the public. These workshops are when The Village Potters invites a dynamic potter/ceramic artist that is an expert in a specific area of clay to teach for a Saturday. Most Master Series topics range from advanced techniques in clay to what it takes to have a successful career.

Enrolled ISM students also receive a 20% discount on other Teaching Center opportunities such as weekly classes.

To request more information about the program and how to apply please contact: lindsey@thevillagepotters.com or call us (828) 253-2424.

Deadline to apply is Friday, August 25th for November 1st, 2017 entry into the program.

*** The ISM Program may be right for you if you are an emerging potter OR if you have been working with clay for years, but wish to explore new avenues in your work. The ISM Program allows potters to have regular access to a studio (7 days a week), community with other potters, opportunities to explore multiple firing techniques, mentorship and tuition from professional and teaching ceramic artists, and periodic exhibition opportunities. We believe that in two years a potter can hone their skills and develop a unique body of work that will equip them to launch into even more creative clay pursuits. This program, like all things at The Village, is designed to be highly relational, and in many ways custom to the goals of each ISM student. Whether you plan to be a professional potter or a part-time creative, this program will afford you the opportunity to go as far as you wish in clay. This non-traditional program makes it possible for potters with other jobs, families, and other unique circumstances to live out their artistic dreams.