About us

A professional ceramics studio in the heart of Eastbourne with fantastic equipment and expert technical support, established in 2017 by Claire, Jennie and Karen. We offer classes for all abilities and ages led by our team of experienced teachers, who are all practicing artists, fantastically supported by our brilliant technicians. Whether you are taking your first steps with clay or have years of experience there's an option for you, from taster sessions to specialist workshops, plus talks and events. For more experienced makers we offer open access studio membership and project development advice.

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The studio has taken part in several highly respected design fairs where students and members have had the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work including the Towner Ceramic Fair and Charleston Designer Maker Fair. We celebrate the work made in our community programme with exhibitions, including the very well received 'A tree full of birds' at the Birley Centre in partnership with Inspire Sussex, and Let's Create Together: an exhibition of 500+ plates at Towner Eastbourne, made by over 70 socially engaged groups over 37 free workshops funded by the Arts Council.  The Mark of the Maker and the Maker's Mark took over the basement space at Volt Gallery turning it into an immersive, interactive installation that shone a light on the working processes of an unknown studio potter.

 

We love going out on the road with the studio and meeting new audiences. We set up the pottery at festivals including the lovely Elderflower Fields and Into the Trees organised by So Sussex and the Living History events at Michelham Priory for Sussex Past. We run workshops for local schools, galleries and museums including Towner Eastbourne, Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft and Hastings Contemporary.

 

As a Community Interest Company, we are dedicated to providing opportunities for all members of the community to explore their creativity, share our facilities and experiment with clay. We work with community groups to offer bespoke workshops and support well-being through the practice of craft. We were commissioned by East Sussex County Council to facilitate workshops for vulnerable people and to increase numeracy through their Multiply initiative and by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust to provide creative therapy for oncology patients.

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Eastbourne Studio Pottery is committed to inclusion, diversity and equality in all our activities, recognising that diversity fuels creativity and innovation. We are dedicated to learning and continually evolving our understanding and work on inclusion. We welcome applications from artists and designers for our residency programme where we can offer studio space and technical support to develop new projects.

 

Please get in contact if you would like us to take part in your event or devise any workshops for you