What's Next: Progression at Sunken Studio
This guide aims to help you gauge what course to do next, and whether a membership is suitable for you.
All workshops and courses at Sunken Studio focus on a discipline within ceramics: handbuilding, throwing, and raw materials lab, etc… A specialist tutor is assigned to cover each session and you can move between levels and disciplines in lots of different combinations.
Our membership packages provide flexible access to the studio and now include access to Community Sessions.
Considerations
Beginner to Beginner
Improver to Beginner
You had a go at throwing and would like to try handbuilding or visa versa. You enjoy classes led by your tutor at a dedicated time. You’d like to cover more of the basics before moving on.
Beginner to Improver
Improver to Improver
You want to practice the techniques and processes you have used so far. You enjoy regular times and a collegiate atmosphere and classes led by a tutor. You are beginning to consider your own projects and would like regular guidance and signposting to support your development.
Beginner to Studio Membership
improver to Studio Membership
You enjoy testing and experimentation and want time, space and resources to play, analyse and develop. You want to work independently on your own projects but also want to ask questions, be part of studio life and belong to a like-minded community that inspires and supports you. You’re comfortable finding your way around most of the studio and working with minimal assistance. You want the flexibility to work at times that suit your schedule, and outside of term dates. You’d also like to join group sessions on a drop-in basis to get help with glazes, throwing, and handbuilding.
Beginner to Community Membership
Improver to Community Membership
You have space to work at home and need somewhere to fire pots. You want to belong to a like-minded community that inspires and supports you. You enjoy a collegiate atmosphere and would like to join group sessions on a drop-in basis to get help with glazes, throwing, and handbuilding.
Timetable
Our core programme of regular courses are hosted during term time; half day, 1 day and weekend courses are hosted throughout the year; and if you’re organising a team building event we offer private booking too.
Studio Members can access the studio outside of term time - we close over bank holidays and for 10-14 days over Christmas.
Membership packages
We currently have two membership packages:
Studio Member - monthly subscription providing bookable studio access during all opening hours on a part time basis. This membership can be used anytime - weekdays, weekday evenings and weekends. Automatically renews. One month notice period. Minimum term 3 months. £90 per month.
Community Member - quarterly subscription providing access to standard firing services and Community Sessions only. Automatically renews. One month notice period. Minimum term 3 months. £50 per month.
All memberships include
Access to house clay; centralised clay reclaim, conditioning and preparation services; and a selection of stoneware glazes.
Access to Community Sessions, and a 10% discount on Sunken Studio courses and products.
Additional Charges
Members must pay for the clay they use, even if it goes back into the system as reclaim. Member's clay costs £2.50 per clay slug. A slug will give you 8-9 310g pucks of clay.
Firing services are extra, and cost £1.06 per cubic litre. Pieces are measured once before firing, and the fee charged covers associated bisc and glaze firings, loading and unloading, wear and tear, and VAT. Average usage is 13-20 cubic litres per month.
Access hours
Monday - Thursday 13:00-21:00
Friday CLOSED
Saturday - Sunday 10:00-17:00
Community Sessions
Community Sessions are held on Monday evenings 18:30-21:00 and Sunday afternoons 14:30-17:00. Bookings are subject to availability. They are an opportunity to get advice on a range of technical questions and studio practices.
Fostering Community
Share ideas and get inspired throughout term time. Community sessions are designed to foster community - bringing members together at set times to learn from each other as well as our expert team.
Flexibility
Come to as many, or as few, sessions as you like, come for an hour, come for the whole session. Community Sessions offer maximum flexibility to members who want to keep practicing and start working on their own projects - without committing to every week or the fixed structure of 6 to 12 week classes.