Looking for a rainy day activity in Sydney? We’ve got just the ticket. In the heart of Surry Hills, one of Sydney’s most vibrant inner-city suburbs, you’ll find The Pottery Shed: a huge, warehouse-style mecca of creativity just steps away from some of the city’s best restaurants.
Founded in 2010 by American-born pottery teacher Joe Darling, The Pottery Shed welcomes budding ceramicists of all skill levels. It’s designed to be a collaborative, inspiring space where pottery enthusiasts can connect and create.
On a rainy winter afternoon, the Time Out Sydney team visited to try out a class for ourselves. Over the two-hour session, we each sat behind our very own pottery wheel and were guided through the craft by Joe and his team of instructors. As well as offering in-depth demonstrations, Joe and the team provided helpful hands-on guidance when we missed the mark – meaning we each finished the session with a masterpiece.
Generally, Joe recommends booking a series of three classes so you can be involved with every stage of the process: creating, trimming, and glazing. If you only have time for a one-off class like us, the team will finish your ceramic treasure for you and let you know when it’s ready to collect.
So, what do you need to know for a class? As a total novice, I can confirm: very little. Arrive in comfy pants, with your hair tied back and a positive attitude, and you’ll leave with a new creative outlet and a cute piece of crockery (you’ll need to wait for your piece to be fired and finished by the team, but it will be yours in principle).
Classes start at $69 per person, dropping to $49 per class after your first three. Committed to taking on pottery as your new creative pursuit? Memberships start at $49 per week (this includes three hour-long sessions in the studio each week).
Keen? You can sign up as a member, book a class, or buy a gift certificate via the website. You can also swing by the store to browse the shelves of incredibly affordable ceramics from Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesdays). You’ll find The Pottery Shed at 656 Crown Street, Surry Hills.
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