Let’s get down and dirty at your next work event (without all the awkward post party HR interventions), or gather for a birthday celebration to remember!
Here at Clay Sydney we pride ourselves on helping you host events that bring people together, learn new skills, and above all: have fun!
Our inner-west studio has capacity for small intimate workshops through to larger energetic sessions. We can also include satellite virtual attendees, if required.
For off site events, we’ve previously taught 150 attendees, and are very happy to go bigger - just tell us where and when!
Our clients have included such brands as Google, Domain, Foxtel, Ernst & Young, and Channel 9.
When you’re ready to book, just let us know your preferred times and dates in the form below, and we can get you all booked in. Alternativly email hello@claysydney.com
What are my private class options?
People: min 6 - max 10
Duration: 90 mins
This is the class everyone thinks about when they hear ‘pottery class’, but we promise there won’t be an awkward Swayze moment in sight.
It’s a muddy road to making your first wobbly wheel thrown piece, but you’ll have a blast along the way. Our expert wheel tutors take you through the process step-by-step, and make sure that everyone comes away making at least one piece. What will this piece look like? You decide, but usually it’s a small cup, vase, bowl or planter.
You’re more than welcome to bring along a drinkie or two, although for this class we don’t recommend nibbles. You’re too engrossed in the muddy task at hand to eat (and probably don’t want a soggy clay cracker either).
Capacity: min 8 - max 15; unlimited out of studio.
Duration: 2 hours
By far our most popular class is our Wine and Clay sessions, and you can probably guess why... cheers!
In this two hour session, you’ll socialise, enjoy BYO nibbles and drinkies, and perfect your very own ceramic creation under the guiding hand of our expert handbuilding tutors. It’s fun, social, and everyone makes something!
We focus on form and texture make your vessel; be it a vase, a planter, a mug, or something all you, baby!
Of course, if you’d prefer not to bring wine, that’s fine too! We can be as family-friendly (or not) as you need.
Capacity: min 30-the sky’s the limit
Locations: you tell us where, and we’ll be there
Duration: 2 hours, plus bump in/out
The beauty of our handbuilding sessions is they can be infinitely scaled up. As long as you’ve got a surface to work on, we’ll bring everything else you’ll need.
After the class we take away your work to our studio to be glazed, fired and returned to one location.
Our Clay at Home kits lend themselves excellently to hybrid events, when some participants aren’t able to make it into the studio.
Each kit includes all the tools, clay and instructions they’ll need. Simply let us know when booking how many kits you’d like us to send out, and we’ll even arrange the courier, ready for them to virtually join us on the day.
Alternatively, if you’d like to organise your own clay-day without tutors, you’re able to use our Clay at Home portal to access On-Demand videos and instructions to create your masterpieces.
Capacity: this is a great spectator sport, so we recommend it for larger groups to watch a select few individuals
Duration: additional 30 mins
In this hilarious session, up to 8 participants will take part in the Clay Olympics; a series of pottery related challenges to become the master of mud!
Challenges include wheel throwing, one handed coils, slabs and the many handled mugs. We suggest senior management take part in this one.
It’s a spectacle. It’s a mess. It’s loud. There’s panic. Everyone cries with laughter.
HOW DO I BOOK?
Simply email hello@claysydney.com with your preferred class type, date and time, and number of guests.
Our lovely staff will work with you to find a workable time slot.
DEPOSIT
We will then require a $200, non-refundable deposit to secure your booking. Whilst this is non-refundable, we know things come up and you may reschedule within 14 days of your booking. You need to let us know via email ONLY - not texts, insta comments, garbled phone messages, or courier pigeons.
FINAL INVOICE DATE
You will be issued your final invoice 14 days out from your event. We require payment to be finalised 7 days from your event.
FINAL NUMBERS DATE
We require final numbers 7 days from your event. Should your numbers go up from this date, we may be able to add to the booking, however we will not be able to remove from the booking. Please note that minimum numbers apply, and per person rates are on a sliding scale. Should you reduce numbers into a lower scale, you individual ticket price may go up.
LAST MINUTE RESCHEDULES
Within the 7 day window, up to 12 hours before your class, we recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances, such as severe illness where a guest may be unable to attend. In these instances we can provide a 50% refund per guest. We may ask for a medical certificate. We are unable to reschedule or refund guests within 12 hours of the class. Thank you for respecting, and honouring this strict 12-hour reschedule
policy. No exceptions. No refunds. No class credits. Thank you.
Within the 7 day window, up to 4 hours before your class, we recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances, such as severe illness where the guest of honour may be unable to attend. In these instances we can reschedule your class date. We may ask for a medical certificate. We will be unable to refund guests should they not be able to make the new date. We are unable to reschedule a class within 4 hours of the class. The class can still continue for other guests. Thank you for respecting, and honouring this strict 4-hour reschedule policy. No exceptions. No refunds. No class credits. Thank you.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO CLASS?
Bring an apron or an old tee, if you’d like. You won’t get super dirty, and the clay doesn’t stain, but you might be a little dusty. Post COVID we are no longer able to provide aprons to wear, so please bring your own!
Bring your wine and nibbles, if you’d like, and glasses too! Don’t forget your wine and nibbles. Again, post COVID, we’re no longer able to provide glasses, so please bring your own.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIRE MY PIECE?
It usually takes around 5-6 weeks to fire, but make sure you keep your eyes on our pick-up page so know when it’s ready. As we have HUNDREDS of students, we can only keep your work for 6 weeks after it’s fired.
After this time it will be donated to raise funds for our community kiln.
HOW MANY PIECES CAN I MAKE IN MY CLASS?
The ticket price includes glazing and firing of ONE finished piece (to be picked up from our studio), any extra pieces can be glazed and fired at $25/piece). We also offer delivery of your ceramics, if you can’t make it back to our studio! Delivery is $15/piece, or we can package them all up for a set price - please email us.
WHAT IF I OR MY GUESTS ARE LATE OR FORGET ABOUT THE CLASS?
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer make-up sessions or refunds if you are late or forget.
Should you arrive late, we will not be able to extend your time period, so it’s best to ask guests to arrive 5-10 mins early... although not too early as we won’t be ready for you! Doors open 10 mins before class begins, and you will not be able to enter before this. This includes set up time.
In studio classes have set times to allow change over between classes, and for the mountains of production work we need to get through. Our lovely tutors make it clear how much time is left in a class, and our classes have lots of time to complete your work, however, should your guests not leave within 15 mins of the end of the class, you will be invoiced $150 for each additional 30 min block of time our tutors need to stay behind.
WHAT IF MY GUESTS GO TO THE WRONG STUDIO?
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer make up sessions or refunds if you go to the wrong studio. We are located in Marrickville. Please ensure your guests have the correct address.
WHAT IF MY CLAY-AT-HOME KITS DON’T ARRIVE IN TIME.
We require a minimum of 5 working days to courier out kits, but the sooner you can give us addresses the better. We don’t guarantee that a kit will arrive on time, but it won’t go to waste. Students have access to the online portal, so they can play along at a later date.
WHAT IF I MAKE A TOTAL TURD OF A POT?
Well, we can’t all be good at everything, all the time, amirite? Whilst our tutors are top guns at getting the best out of folks, sometimes the clay just doesn’t want to play the game, and your Pinterest dreams may not be met.
Clay is a cruel mistress. You just gotta take it on the chin and try again.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PIECE CRACKS IN THE KILN?
Clay Sydney is not responsible for a piece cracking, breaking, exploding or any other type of unsatisfactory result after firing. Cracks happen.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY PIECE IS READY TO PICK UP?
Jump online to claysydney.com/pickup. You can pick up on behalf of everyone in your classes, but you need to have photos. Alternatively, we can mail all items to one location. There is an additional cost for this option.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PIECE GOES MISSING?
We don’t throw work out within the 6 week pick-up window of its firing, so in the first instance we’ll look for you- with around 1000 items on the shelves at any one time it can be a little tricky if it’s been put in the wrong date box - especially so if you forgot to take a picture. If you don’t have a picture we may not be able to help you.
In the very unlikely event it still can’t be located, even with a photo, you will be offered a make-up session. If you purchased additional pieces in the wheel class, you will be refunded only the cost of additional pieces.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I FORGET TO PICK UP MY PIECE FOR MONTHS?
We can’t keep work longer than the 6 week pick-up window. Your work will take 5-6 weeks to be fired, and then will be kept for a further 6 weeks (so about 2.5 - 3 months in total from the date of your class). After this, pieces are put into our abandoned shelves, where people can donate to charity and take it home.
WE’RE THINKING OF ARRIVING DRUNK OFF OUR ARSES/ GETTING ABSOLUTELY HAMMERED WHILE
WE’RE THERE. COOL?
Noooo. Let’s keep it classy, shall we. If our tutors think you, or one of your group is too drunk, then we’ll ask you all to leave, and you won’t be refunded, so let’s look after each other.
I’M THINKING OF BEING ABUSIVE TO YOUR STAFF, MEMBERS, OR OTHER STUDENTS. COOL?
That’s a hard no there, champ. Our staff are very lovely. If you’re finding ceramics/life/the universe frustrating, that’s fine, but you don’t get to be a jerk. Not ever. We’ll cancel your ticket on the spot, and you won’t get a refund. We’ve only done this twice in six years and thousands of students. Don’t be the third.