Slow Clay Centre

Slow Clay Centre Slow Clay Centre: for education in the art, design and craft of pottery and all things clay. Classes Also corporate team-building and events.

Slow Clay Centre specialises in ceramics education by some of Australia's most highly regarded ceramic artists and educationists. Founder, Jane Sawyer, is an exhibiting ceramic artist, passionate educationist and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics. Sawyer trained in production workshops in Australia and Japan and also holds a MFA by research. She brings this extensive experience to

Slow Clay Centre which offers a range of foundational courses leading to a unique Studio Practice Program for advanced students. Slow Clay Centre is known for teaching Japanese wheel techniques but also offers Form & Surface (hand building), Porcelain Small Objects, Glaze Development, Printing on Clay, Mould Making and many others specialist courses and workshops for the serious student. Regular visiting national and international guest artists share their unique techniques and concepts in our central Collingwood location and online. Ask about our new online Hand Building course that you can do at home! We support our addiction to the craft of clay with a diet firmly based in Art, Design and the explorative pathway. Join us in the centre!

Broken doesn’t have to mean the end…Join award-winning artist and senior ceramics conservator Penny Byrne Penny Byrne fo...
24/08/2026

Broken doesn’t have to mean the end…

Join award-winning artist and senior ceramics conservator Penny Byrne Penny Byrne for a 4-week course exploring contemporary ceramic restoration and Kintsugi.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Penny will share the methods used by professional conservators to assess damage, select appropriate materials and create strong, lasting repairs. Working hands-on with test pieces, you’ll learn key restoration techniques alongside Penny’s distinctive contemporary approach to Kintsugi.

At Slow Clay, we believe restoring broken ceramics honours both the object and its raw materials - extending its life while uncovering new value in what might otherwise be discarded.

A rare opportunity to learn specialist skills from one of Australia’s leading ceramics conservators.

📍 Slow Clay Centre
🗓️ Tuesdays, 10 November – 1 December 2026
🕘 6.00–8.30pm | 4 weeks

Limited spots! Bookings via the link in bio.

13/08/2026

SCHOOL HOLIDAY CLAY CLUB ✨
Two mornings of making, learning and fun with clay!

Designed for young people aged 8–16, Holiday Clay Club gives kids the chance to explore both the pottery wheel and hand-building, with plenty of individual instruction, inspiration and freedom to work at their own pace.

Held over two consecutive mornings, our extended three-hour sessions allow more time to slow down, develop skills and enjoy the process.

Ages: 8–16
Time: 9.30am–12.30pm
When: Every school holiday period
Cost: $265 / $255 each when booking with a friend or sibling

Perfect for curious beginners and budding young potters wanting to build their skills.

Bookings via the link in bio - spots fill up fast!

Students in the zone learning to refine cylinders with Jane Sawyer 😍
11/08/2026

Students in the zone learning to refine cylinders with Jane Sawyer 😍

We’re thrilled to share that Slow Clay received support from Yarra City Council to have our studio’s own Sabrina Talaric...
09/08/2026

We’re thrilled to share that Slow Clay received support from Yarra City Council to have our studio’s own Sabrina Talarico film a series of tutorials about the Native Bee Habitat project that started in May with Julie Bartholomew workshop Circular Ceramics for Native Bee Habitat.

This grant funding for Climate Resilient and Adapted City projects will help to make this project more accessible to a wider community of clay workers who have waste products in their studios that might be a waiting resource for our native digging bee friends and a way for clay to connect more meaningfully with the natural world.

The Native Bee Habitat project is part of a 12-month citizen science initiative supported by Dr Kit Prendergast Kit Prendergast to make habitats from clay and clay waste, plant native flora, and document activity throughout the year to understand more about how to create habitat for our buzzy little friends!

If you’re interested to get involved, please do reach out via email [email protected] and we can keep you in the loop as this project evolves.

We’re thrilled to also share that Dr Kit has been selected as a finalist in the Premier’s Science Awards 2026: Early Career Scientist of the Year! The awards celebrate outstanding research, study, education and engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics across Western Australia. Vote for Dr Kit to win the People’s Choice Award before Monday 7 September 2026!

Clay is even better shared! This bunch did such fantastic work in this private wheel session!Whether you’re celebrating ...
03/08/2026

Clay is even better shared! This bunch did such fantastic work in this private wheel session!

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, planning a team day, gathering the family, or simply looking for something different to do with friends, our private pottery workshops are designed to bring people together.

Spend 2–2.5 hours learning to throw on the wheel, handbuild, or experience both with guidance from our experienced teachers. You’ll each make a couple of pieces, and you’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks to make the afternoon your own.

✨ Wheel Throwing (up to 12)
✨ Handbuilding (up to 9)
✨ Combined Wheel + Handbuilding (up to 21)

No experience needed!

Visit the link in our bio to enquire about a private workshop or email [email protected] with your requested date and number of people!

Try something new with our Beginner Pottery Wheel Taster Class in Collingwood!In this relaxed 2-hour session, you’ll exp...
29/07/2026

Try something new with our Beginner Pottery Wheel Taster Class in Collingwood!

In this relaxed 2-hour session, you’ll experience wheel throwing for the first time, guided step by step by an experienced instructor, and take home two glazed pieces a few weeks later.

No experience required - just bring your curiosity (and maybe a friend or two!) for a fun, hands-on evening.

Next date:
🗓️ Friday 7 August
⏰ 5.30-7.30pm
📍Slow Clay Centre
13 Keele St,
Collingwood

Bookings via slowclay.com (link in bio)

Final spots! Our next 8-week term starts this week ✨Spend the next eight weeks making, learning and sharing the studio w...
20/07/2026

Final spots! Our next 8-week term starts this week ✨

Spend the next eight weeks making, learning and sharing the studio with a community of clay lovers.

Classes below - limited spots remaining!

BEGINNER WHEEL
Thursdays, 6.30–8.30pm
Saturdays, 1–3pm

Perfect if you’re new to clay or ready to build a strong foundation on the wheel. Learn our unique Slow Clay Method™, incorporating Japanese techniques and a mindful, ergonomic approach to throwing, in a supportive group environment.

EXTENDED SURFACE
Thursdays, 10am–12pm

Take your surfaces further and develop your own material voice through slips, engobes, terra sigillata, oxides, stains, inclusions and special-effect glazes. You’ll build a personalised library of material samples and explore how to bring colour, texture and surface more intentionally into your own work.

Book via the link in bio or at slowclay.com

Handbuilding course: beginners & Intermediate with .vachon.pots Whether you’re completely new to clay or have some exper...
18/07/2026

Handbuilding course: beginners & Intermediate with .vachon.pots

Whether you’re completely new to clay or have some experience and want to expand your skills, this course is a great place to explore handbuilding and begin developing your own sculptural language.

Dawn will guide you through a range of clay types, handbuilding techniques and surface treatments, exploring volume, movement and structural support through projects that allow plenty of room for individual development.

You’ll also learn how to glaze your work, with all pieces fired and finished for collection after the course.

We keep our classes intentionally small, allowing for plenty of one-on-one guidance as you build your confidence and skills.

Book your spot now via the link in bio.

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From Dawn Vachon’s studio to the classroom. Our fantastic handbuilding instructor, Dawn, is currently deep in studio mod...
16/07/2026

From Dawn Vachon’s studio to the classroom. Our fantastic handbuilding instructor, Dawn, is currently deep in studio mode, using coil and pinch techniques to create beautiful abstract sculptures that contrast the lightness of clouds with the visual weight of clay. These works will soon be featured in their upcoming exhibition Soft Landing with painter Ria Green at OK Violet (.k.violet ), opening August 1.

If you’ve ever wanted to explore these techniques (or develop your own sculptural language) our Beginner/Intermediate Handbuilding class is the perfect place to start. Dawn will guide you through volume, movement and structural support using the same handbuilding approaches that inform their own studio practice.

We’re keeping this class intentionally small. While the Friday class has already sold out, we still have a handful of places available in our Monday evening class. A smaller group means even more one-on-one guidance from Dawn as you build your confidence and skills.

Tap the link in our bio to secure one of the last remaining spots.

Images supplied by Dawn.

Address

13 Keele Street
Collingwood, VIC
3066

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 5pm
Friday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+61399437844

Website

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