Baltic Clay's new studio!

by balticclay in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

We did it
On 20th December 2019 we successfully raised £3,829 with 70 supporters in 28 days

We need to expand our current studio in order to provide more space for artists working in clay and to run more classes for beginners

by balticclay in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

Our Background

I have been running the Baltic Clay studio in Liverpool for the past 4 years. The studio provides the space and support for up to 10 studio members who work in clay to create, promote and sell their work. The studio also runs several evening and day classes for beginners . The studio has a great demand for it's studio member places and its evening class waiting list is over 18 months long. Our current space restricts both the number of studio members we can accommodate and the number of classes we can offer. 

The Big Plan!

We intend to move to a much larger studio and create four new spaces. One exclusively for studio members, one exclusively for classes, one shared equipment space and one for storage and kilns. We will increase the studio membership to 20 and run several more beginners and specialist classes in order to meet the demand.

We will be sharing a large Victorian building in the heart of Toxteth with the Granby Workshop which makes ceramic tiles and tableware items for national and international customers. The proposed site is being currently renovated and has a large open courtyard which makes outdoor community activities and workshops possible. 

Why we need the money!

Two new kilns cost over £8200 and if we go over our target, the rest of the money will go towards kitting the space out with new, purpose built workbenches, shelving, smooth resin flooring, new glass doors to let in natural light as well as two second hand extra electric wheels that cost around £300 each. 

What's on offer!

All of the pieces on offer will  be made by our studio members. They are pieces that represent what they make best. They will made after the Crowdfunder finishes and can be either posted to you from March 2020 or collect them in person when we have our open day next year!

Please make sure you click on the correct pledge from the list opposite!

Here's what's on offer:

£15 pledge

One of Matt's cactus planters. Colourful slipcast beauties! Follow him at taehoonceramics on Instagram

£25 pledge

One of Jane's beautiful handheld birds.

Follow her on Instagram at janelovedayceramics

£25 pledge

One of Casey's amazing individual sized platters! Handmade, striking designs and very useful!

Follow her on Instagram as caseycainceramics. 

£20 pledge

One of Casey's trinket dishes. In a beautiful strawberries and cream pattern, these are very useful! Designs may vary. Follow her on Instagram on caseycainceramics.

£30 pledge

One of Chris' popular Pocket Moongazers. Handheld pieces, each one unique and full of character! Follow him on Instagram on ctwceramics.

£35 pledge

One of Helen's Blue Birds. Beautiful hand sized pieces, handmade and each one unique. 

£45 pledge

One of Louise's terracotta planters. Made by hand with a beautiful corrugated texture, glazed and waterproof making them ideal for showing off your plants and blooms! 

Follow her on Instagram at louisewallerceramics

£25 pledge

One of Kath's Bird on a Wire mugs. Hand thrown and perfect for a really good cup of tea! 

Follow her on Instagram on design37

Special Workshops

£30 pledge

One space on our Kids Workshop. A great chance to for younger makers to experience the creative possibilities of working in clay. Ages 5 to 15.

Spring 2020, date to be decided  

£40 pledge

One space on the Make a Wonderbeast workshop. A chance to make your very own Wonderbeast with Chris Turrell-Watts. Suitable for beginners.

Spring 2020, date to be decided. 

£40 pledge

Pinch Pot Workshop

Spend an enjoyable afternoon with Louise Waller an experienced local Ceramics artist and practitioner who will introduce you to her style of work and demonstrate the relaxing technique of making pinch pots.

Clay, enthusiasm and support will be provided.

£60 pledge

One place on Poppy Elmhirst's Pottery Throwing Course. Learn how to throw a pot on a wheel with expert thrower and studio member Poppy! This 3 hour course is perfect for beginners and is limited to 4 people so there is ample time for one to one tuition. Great fun for a group! Spring 2020, date to be decided. 

The workshops on offer are unique to us.  They are run by our studio members and are all suitable for beginners. They offer a great experience and would make a fantastic present or treat for yourself!

The workshop dates will be decided after the Crowdfunder finishes and will take place in the Spring of 2020. All people who who book on a workshop will be contacted abut dates as soon as possible.

Studio memberships

£310 pledge

Buy your first 3 months Studio Membership at 10% off the normal price! Studio Memberships are for people who only need access to the studio and not for people who need guidance or tuition. Applicants are subject to an informal interview to ensure that they are suitable for Studio Memberships status.

This project is all about supporting and developing creative activities by helping individuals to set up their own local businesses and making the joys of making in clay as accessible as possible to the local community. 

Many of our ex and present studio members have set up their own businesses and have sold their work in shops and galleries across the country. 

Thank you for your support and please remember to share this as much as possible! 

our home website

[email protected]

Instagram balticclay1

Facebook Baltic Clay 

 

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£10 or more

£10 Reward

A big thank you from us and a warm glow for doing something lovely!

£15 or more

9 of 20 claimed

£15 Reward cactus planters

One of Mat Hughes' cactus planters. These cute and colourful planters have proved hugely popular at The Nest and at craft fairs and on Instagram! Perfect for small cacti and bringing a smile to your windowsill! Follow him on Instagram as taehoonceramics

£20 or more

0 of 15 claimed

£20 reward trinket dish

One of Casey's beautiful trinket dishes. Handmade, beautiful and very useful! Designs will vary per dish. Casey has recently graduated from a MA in Ceramic Design from Liverpool Hope University. Follow her on Instagram as caseycainceramics

£25 or more

3 of 20 claimed

£25 Reward Jane Loveday's Bird

One of Jane Loveday's beautiful, toasted stoneware, handmade Rainbow Birds. Each one is individually made and coloured in stoneware glaze and are around 5 cm in length. Colours may vary. Jane has work on sale at The Nest in Liverpool and has sold her larger, sculptural pieces in galleries and exhibitions across the country. Follow her on Instagram as janelovedayceramics

£25 or more

1 of 10 claimed

£25 Reward Casey Cain's handmade platter

One of Casey Cain's handmade platters. Handmade and individually decorated, these small stoneware serving plates are ideal for cheese and crackers! Designs will vary per platter. Casey has recently graduated from a MA in Ceramic Design from Liverpool Hope University. Follow her on Instagram as caseycainceramics

£25 or more

1 of 20 claimed

£25 Reward Kath's beautiful Bird on a Wire mug

One of Kath's beautiful Bird on a Wire mugs. Hand thrown and simply decorated, these are the perfect way to have a really good cup of tea!

£30 or more

11 of 25 claimed

£30 Reward Pocket Moongazer

One of Chris Turrell-Watts's popular Pocket Moongazers. These pieces are handheld in size and made individually. Designs and colours may vary. Chris is one of the founders of Baltic Clay. He sells regularly in the Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool. He is a Selected Member of the Craft Potters Association and will be taking part in Ceramic Art London next March. Follow him on Instagram as ctwceramics.

£30 or more

1 of 8 claimed

£30 Kids Workshop

One place on our new Kids Workshop! A two hour session exploring clay for younger makers, ages 5 til 15. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£35 or more

2 of 20 claimed

£35 Reward Bush's Blue Bird

One of Helen Bush's Blue Birds. These beautiful handheld birds are individually made and glazed. The birds vary from 9 - 16 cm in length. Helen has been making ceramic pieces for many years and has a distinct and simple style.

£40 or more

0 of 8 claimed

£40 Make a Wonderbeast Group "B"

Learn how to make your very own Wonderbeast with Chris Turrell-Watts. Chris has been making, exhibiting and selling Wonderbeasts at the Bluecoat Display Centre, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, the Contemporary Ceramics Centre in London and soon at Ceramic Art London next March. Perfect for beginners. This will be a 2 hour workshop. Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£40 or more

0 of 8 claimed

£40 Make a Wonderbeast Group "C"

Learn how to make your very own Wonderbeast with Chris Turrell-Watts. Chris has been making, exhibiting and selling Wonderbeasts at the Bluecoat Display Centre, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, the Contemporary Ceramics Centre in London and soon at Ceramic Art London next March. Perfect for beginners. This will be a 2 hour workshop. Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£40 or more

3 of 8 claimed

£40 Pinch Pot Masterclass

Spend an enjoyable afternoon being introduced to tactile pinch pots making processes. Terracotta will be used along with a minimum of tools. this session is all about what you can do with your hands. This 2 hour workshop is suitable for complete beginners. Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£40 or more

1 of 8 claimed

£40 Reward Surface Decoration Workshop

One place on Helen's Surface Decoration Workshop. This 2 hour workshop will introduce you to may different types of surface decoration. This is ideal for beginners or those people who just need a bit of inspiration with their current work! Helen is an experienced maker who has been experimenting with a wide variety of techniques to print onto clay. Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£45 or more

1 of 10 claimed

£45 Reward terracotta hanging planter

One of Louise Waller's terracotta hanging planters. Vibrant terracotta will look fabulous with house plants or blooms. Shiny transparent glaze creates a water tight vessel and highlights the unusual corrugated surface. Recently she was commissioned by a local restaurant to make their serving plates and she is much in demand for her work! Follow her on Instagram as louisewallerceramics.

£60 or more

3 of 4 claimed

£60 - Group "A" Throwing Course

One place on Poppy Elmhirst's Pottery Throwing Course. Learn how to throw a pot on a wheel with expert thrower and studio member Poppy! This 3 hour course is perfect for beginners and is limited to 4 people so there is ample time for one to one tuition. Great fun for a group! Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£60 or more

3 of 4 claimed

£60 Group "B" Throwing Course

One place on Poppy Elmhirst's Pottery Throwing Course. Learn how to throw a pot on a wheel with expert thrower and studio member Poppy! This 3 hour course is perfect for beginners and is limited to 4 people so there is ample time for one to one tuition. Great fun for a group! Spring 2020, date to be decided. Follow Poppy on Instagram as clayelm.

£80 or more

2 of 8 claimed

£80 Reward Friday evening class 6 sessions

A special 10 per cent off 6 sessions for our new Friday evening class. Suitable for beginners this class will run for 6 weeks and will be from 6.30 til 8.30 pm. Normal price would be £90. Due to start in Spring 2020, date to be set.

£80 or more

0 of 8 claimed

£80 Reward Wednesday Afternoon Class 6 sessions

A special 10 per cent off 6 sessions for our new Wednesday afternoon class. Suitable for beginners this class will run for 6 weeks and will be from 2.30 til 4.30 pm. Normal price would be £90. Due to start in Spring 2020, date to be set.

£310 or more

2 of 10 claimed

£310- 3 Month's Studio Membership at 10% off!

Buy your first 3 months Studio Membership at 10% off the normal price! Studio Memberships are for people who only need access to the studio and not for people who need guidance or tuition. Applicants are subject to an informal interview to ensure that they are suitable for Studio Memberships status.

£40 or more

8 of 8 claimed

£40 Make a Wonderbeast Workshop Group "A"

Learn how to make your very own Wonderbeast with Chris Turrell-Watts. Chris has been making, exhibiting and selling Wonderbeasts at the Bluecoat Display Centre, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, the Contemporary Ceramics Centre in London and soon at Ceramic Art London next March. Perfect for beginners. This will be a 2 hour workshop. Spring 2020, date to be decided.

£80 or more

8 of 8 claimed

£80 Reward Monday Evening class 6 sessions

A special 10 per cent off 6 sessions for our new Monday evening class. Suitable for beginners this class will run for 6 weeks and will be from 6.30 til 8.30 pm. Normal price would be £90. Due to start in Spring 2020, date to be set.

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