Description
Check out our Alumni Page!
Next Session: November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2026
Are you a potter or ceramic artist who feels the need to push your skills and design abilities to the next level? Do you want a mentor to partner with you in your journey in clay? Our Independent Study and Mentoring program works with potters who want to develop or refine their own bodies of work.
Our Independent Study and Mentoring (ISM) Program is for both the emerging and seasoned artist. The program allows you to hone skills among a vibrant and creative community.
This 1-3 year study is built upon the historical tradition of learning from master potters and the passing down of knowledge and experience. As an ISM student, you receive individual input from seasoned professionals. You’ll be immersed in a flexible environment that is perfect for developing a body of work that is unique to you.
Whether you aspire to earn a living in ceramics, or simply wish to create more space for clay in your life, our ISM program provides the structure to live out your artistic dreams.
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 instruction from professional and teaching ceramic artists. 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 a variety of creative ceramic pursuits. This program, like all things at The Village Potters Clay Center, is designed to be highly relational with one-on-one meetings with mentors, group discussions, and critiques. In many ways, this program is customized 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.
The Studio:
Over 2,400 square feet with designated individual work spaces (with your own shelving units, wheel, and table) + community work space (hand-buliding tables + glaze mixing area) / slab roller / extruder / additional shelving in kiln room / glaze kitchen / spray booth / kilns (oxidation, gas reduction, raku, kazegama (wood ash)), on-site purchasing of Laguna Clays, on-site purchasing of various tools in our tool shop
The Program:
- Seven-day a week access (excluding holidays)
- Various demonstrations each month (online and in person)
- One-on-one meetings with mentors
- Feedback/critiques of your work
- Discounted intermediate & advanced classes
Commitment:
1 – 3 year commitment opportunities
2025-2026 Program Cost:
Students can choose to pay monthly, or pay the year in full with a 5% discount. 2025-2026 tuition costs will be announced in spring 2025
Additional Costs:
clay / firings / glaze mixing / use of glaze kitchen (small test batches are no charge)
*Apprenticeships (scholarships) available on a competitive basis. Please inquire if interested.
For additional information or questions contact us at info@thevillagepotters.com or call us (828) 253-2424.
TO APPLY: View Application Here
Application deadline is Monday, September 1, 2025 for November 1, 2025 program entry
A few testimonials:
“I’m so grateful for the ISM program because it’s given me the space and resources to explore my own style beyond what I ever could have expected. Being in such a supportive community encourages me to push my artistic boundaries is an amazing experience.” – Avery Wells, 2017-2019
“At 60 years old, I found a whole new person: I — an artist.” – Tracy Hawkins, 2016-2018
“The ISM program at The Village Potters is truly an invaluable experience. My technique and confidence in my work has grown exponentially due to the mentorship by master resident potters and flexible studio accessibility to practice. I have always been interested in glaze development in particular and this program has not only encouraged me to pursue that interest but provided access to the materials, educational workshops, and insightful guidance from mentors to enable my glaze exploration to be successful. I entered this program with very limited knowledge of how to fire any kiln and now can not only confidently fire my own electric kiln but have had such fun helping fire gas reduction kilns, raku/alternative firings, and even a Kazagama kiln. I truly believe the ISM program and TVP community as a whole offered everything I could dream of to transform me into a refined and knowledgeable potter.” – Keira Peterson, 2017-2019 and 2021-2022.