CULFORD STUDIOS

Culford Studios workshops encourage students to develop their own ideas and tackle new ceramic challenges, and are aimed at both beginners and those with experience looking to develop their technical skills and creativity. The teaching space at Culford Studios it is lovely and spacious with beautiful light… Classes are led by studio members, each of whom are practicing artists with a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. Our programme of courses cater for a range of skill levels and the more specific technical workshops draw on studio members own art practices.

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WHAT TO EXPECT?

Expert tuition (our teachers are DBS checked), Culford Studio Ceramics is a group of professional ceramic artists who are based within Culford Studios, many of whom have graduated from the Royal College of Art. They have experience teaching at Camden Arts Centre, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Workshop 305, Skandihus, WAES, Morley College and Camden Working Mens College among others.

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Classes cover both hand-building and throwing, and occasional classes on specific techniques (like low temperature firing- Egyptian faience). Our general courses occur weekly (over 4 or 8 weeks).

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WHAT IS INCLUDED?

For Beginners courses and Workshops, all the materials (clay, decorating slips, transparent glaze) and two firings (bisque and glaze) are included. For all other courses, there is a  a small charge before first firing of £3.5 per kg for materials, and another charge of £4.5 per kg for glaze firing. For environmental reasons we encourage people to - as far as possible - only fire work that they know they want to keep. Firing is an irreversible process. Clay can be recycled until it is fired; unwanted fired work can at best be used as aggregate in building supplies, but at the moment is more likely to end up in landfill.

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WHERE?

The classes are held on the upper floor of Culford Studios, a spacious and light filled space. Studio is equipped with pottery wheels, tables, shelving etc. Work is fired in kilns within studio members' area. (work made outside classes can be fired through our kiln hiring service.)

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WHAT TO BRING?

Please bring your own apron, or clothes you don't mind getting messy. 

There are studio tools available, if you want to invest in your own tools there is also a small shop in the studio.

Please tie back long hair and trim long nails - this will make working with clay much easier.

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WHEN TO ARRIVE?

We recommend you come to class at least 5 minutes earlier than the start time so you can settle in and be ready to start with the group.

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COLLECTING YOUR FINISHED WORK 

Your tutor will estimate when you can come and pick up finished work from the studio. This is usually about 4-6 weeks. The work you make will need to dry out, be bisque fired, glazed and then glaze fired. We will send an email to confirm your pieces are ready for collection. We keep your work for 1 month after your collection email is sent to you. We regret we cannot keep the work for longer as we have such limited shelf space in our  studio!

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NON-ATTENDANCE

In the event of non-attendance, we regret that we cannot provide alternative studio time. Classes are at fixed times and days to cover the cost of tuition and the specific tutor who is running that session. Please make sure you can attend all dates before booking.

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COVID-19 

Please be aware that the studio will be cleaned and disinfected before you start and you will spend the last 15 mins of each class cleaning and tidying up.

Your commitment:

• Please avoid touching anything in the studio that is not related to your classwork

• Please only come to the studio if you are not a risk to others – or at risk yourself 

• Do not visit if you have symptoms – stay at home 

 

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE 

In the event of fire your teacher will escort you out of the building. The fire assembly point is outside on Culford Mews. Please leave quickly and don’t attempt to pick up your belongings. 

If you have a disability and require assistance please let the teacher know at the beginning of your course.

 

GETTING HERE

• Trains 

We are a 20 minute walk from Highbury and Islington Station which is on the Victoria line. Alternatively we are an 8 minute walk from Dalston Junction Overground and a 10 minute walk from Dalston Kingsland Overground. 

• Buses

We are a 2 minute walk from Southgate road (stop BH) and Mildmay Park (Stop CC). Buses 30, 38 and 56 are served by these stops.

• Cycling

We have space for you to leave your bike inside our studio. 

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