Turning Earth's pioneering ceramics studios are for everyone, from beginners to professionals, and can now be found across London in Hoxton, Leyton and Highgate. We offer pottery courses and open-access membership, "like gym membership for potters"
The home of community pottery, open to all. Discover the art of ceramics in a vibrant, beautiful studio. Whether you are just starting out or well used to clay on your hands, Turning Earth offers the space, the community and all the tools to create and unleash your ideas. Join us and start making today!
Turning Earth has grown to encompass four sites in North and East London, including Hoxton, Leyton and most recently, Highgate, which is located just on the edge of Queen's and Highgate woods. The studio for our professional makers -In Production- is also located in the Argall Avenue industrial estate.
The first of its kind in the UK, Turning Earth is also known for the scale and beauty of its spaces and the efficiency of its technical systems and firings, which have been studiously refined for over a decade. Each of the studios is an open, airy, hub that can accommodate hundreds of makers each month. The spaces are exceptionally clean, minimising the risk to makers' lungs from air-borne silica reflecting Turning Earth's commitment to health and safety standards.
Turning Earth pioneered the open-access membership model in the UK. Launched in 2013 to bring to London model of community ceramics makerspace that had been developing in the US, and subsequently inspired many similar studios, both in this country and around the world.
Discover the joy of working with clay on one of our extensive ceramics courses. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get your hands messy for the first time or an experienced artist interested in refining your techniques, our courses offer something for everyone. In terms of pottery creativity, the sky's the limit; and clay is virtually limitless.
Courses for All Skill Levels
Whether you’re looking to master your craft, or just put your hands in some clay and make something, Turning Earth will allow you to work at a pace that suits you. Come whenever works best for you, whether your free time is on a Sunday afternoon, or a Thursday lunchtime, or if it changes from week to week.
Immerse yourself in creativity and join a thriving community of artists by becoming a member of our ceramics studio. Regardless of whether you're a hobbyist, a seasoned potter, or somewhere in between, our membership offers everything you need to create, connect, and grow your skills.
Practicing ceramics may just make you a happier person. Studies have shown the numerous mental health benefits of participating in craft, which - because it is both repetitively physical and involves completing manageable tasks - releases the “happy chemicals” of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. A lot of people find that making, like meditation, helps restore a sense of presence and mental balance.
Pottery making is part of the evolutionary history of human beings. As hunter gatherers, we spent millennia digging it from riverbanks and shaping it into usable vessels. By following our innate desire to put our hands in the earth and mould it, we are using our physiology in a way that is continuous with our evolutionary development.
Beyond this, ceramics fosters a deep connection to nature and the environment. Clay, as a natural material, reminds us of the Earth's processes and cycles, grounding us in a world that often feels disconnected. By working with this elemental material, we cultivate a sense of gratitude and respect for the natural world, creating a holistic experience that feeds both the mind and soul.
We’d love to hear from you!
Whether you have questions, need more information, or want to get started on your ceramics journey, feel free to reach out.
