Monthly First Fridays
Join Clayworks on the first Friday of each month to see our campus in action! Stop in from 5:30-8:30pm to shop the Clayworks Gallery, receive a tour of our facility, and observe studio artists and live demonstrations. Each of our classrooms will also be full of excitement as we lead wheel, handbuilding, and raku workshops. Check out details below to register for a workshop.
Test your Clayworks and pottery knowledge at our free community trivia session, where winners will receive access to Fall 2025 class registration before it opens to the public! No experience necessary and light refreshments available. See full detail and sign up below!
What to Expect
Team Participation: Participants can register themselves and 3 others to compete OR can sign up as an individual and be assigned to a team.
Test Your Clayworks Knowledge: Get quizzed on general clay knowledge and trivia from our 20 years as a non-profit. Our trivia will be fun, clay-themed, and designed so everyone can participate regardless of your clay experience.
Explore Our Gallery: We are refreshing our gallery with new artwork by our 27 studio artists. These new pieces will be arranged by Valentina Gil Girón, our Summer 2025 Intern from Queens University. Come see what Valentina, our studio artists, and teaching artists have been up to, and do a little shopping while you’re here!
*Win a Big Prize: The winning team of four people will each receive early registration for our Fall 2025 Session (for student winners) or one free electric kiln firing (for instructors & studio artists)!
Ready to Join the Game?
Use the link below to register your team or to sign up independently and be assigned to a team. RSVP by July 30 so we can plan the game!
August First Friday Workshops
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Friday, June 6, 6-8pm
Ages: 18+ unless stated otherwise
Tuition: $60 per person
Please allow 3 weeks for the projects to be completed.
Ever want to learn to throw on the potter's wheel but cannot commit to a class? In this 2-hour workshop, a Clayworks teaching artist will teach you the basics of wheel throwing. Toward the end of the workshop, you choose your favorite pieces and the glaze color they will be finished in. We will take care of the drying and firing of your pots. Attend alone, or bring a friend, family member, or a date! Your pottery will be food, dishwasher and microwave safe.
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Friday, June 6, 6-8pm
Ages: 18+
Tuition: $72 per person
Join us at Clayworks for RAKU firing! In this hands-on workshop, participants will receive a piece of hand thrown bisque ware to glaze and fire* that will be yours. Teaching artist Greg Scott will lead participants through the glazing and outdoor Raku firing processes. Your pots will be ready to take home that day. Close toe shoes are a must.
*You may bring your own pot to fire. Limit the size of bisque piece to no taller than 10" and no wider than 6". Only one piece per person.
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop takes place outdoors and is contingent on appropriate weather. In the event that the class is rained out, Clayworks will be in touch no later than two hours before the session. Participants in cancelled classes will be issued a full refund.
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Friday, August 1, 6-8pm
Ages: 5+; all children must be joined by a registered adult
Tuition: $60 per adult, $54 per child
Start your month with Clayworks! Join us for our our bookend planter workshop and craft your own creation to support your book collection and your houseplants. Using handbuilding techniques, you'll learn to build clay forms while exploring various texturing methods to create beautiful surface patterns. This workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced potters alike who want to explore the meditative art of handbuilding. All materials and tools are provided, and your finished pieces will be fired and ready for pickup in approximately three weeks. Come ready to get your hands dirty and create a one-of-a-kind piece that will bring your creativity to your bookshelf for years to come!
Gallery Shopping, Studio Tours, and Live Demonstrations
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Explore the creative heart of Clayworks during our First Friday artist-led tours, where you'll get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our studios, kilns, and gallery spaces. Meet our talented resident artists as they demonstrate techniques and share insights about their unique ceramic processes in our top-quality facilities. Whether you're a pottery enthusiast or simply curious about clay arts, these monthly tours offer a perfect opportunity to connect with Charlotte's vibrant ceramic arts community and discover the magic that happens when creativity meets clay.
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Shop our gallery during First Friday events to discover one-of-a-kind pottery handcrafted by Clayworks' talented studio artists and instructors. Whether you are looking for a gift for a loved one or the perfect piece for your own space, our gallery is stocked with functional and sculptural works that will be a perfect choice. Your purchases not only bring beauty into your life but also directly supports local artists and helps further our nonprofit mission to engage, enrich, and inspire diverse populations through the celebration of ceramic arts.
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Watch clay transform through fire during our First Friday raku demonstrations, where you'll see pots glowing red-hot as they're pulled from the kiln and plunged into containers filled with combustible materials. The flames, smoke, and dramatic temperature changes create stunning metallic finishes and crackle patterns that make each piece truly one-of-a-kind.