Woodfire Studio Program: 12 Month Artist Development
Rolling intake · Limited to 10 active artists
The Woodfire Studio Program is a year-long development pathway for artists who already work with clay and want to deepen their practice through wood firing, material research, and long-form making.
Artists can begin at any point in the year. Each place runs for 12 months from the start date. Up to 10 artists may be active in the program at any one time.
Participants join a working studio culture, with regular intensives, firings, and mentoring. The focus is on developing an independent firing practice, a material language, and a sustainable rhythm of work.
This program is designed to align with the Creative New Zealand Artist Development Fund.
Start
Rolling intake: begin any month, subject to availability.
Each place runs for 12 months from commencement.
Cost
$3,800 per artist
Most participants will apply for up to $5,000 from Creative New Zealand.
This course fee is structured to leave artists with funding for their own time, travel, and materials.
A support letter and project outline are provided for CNZ applications.
What’s Included
-10–12 full-day studio intensives across the year
-2–3 wood firings
-One-on-one mentoring
-Clay, glaze materials, and testing resources
-Kiln access and firing support
-Final firing and informal showing / open kiln
Studio Access & Hours
The studio is open daily from 10am – 9pm.
Program participants have shared access within these windows:
Weekdays: 10am – 6pm
Two evenings per week: 6pm – 9pm
Occasional weekend blocks (scheduled)
Access is shared between up to 10 artists.
This is a working studio, not a drop-in space.
Artists are expected to:
-Work independently
-Clean and reset the space after use
-Treat the kiln, tools, and site with care
What the Program Focuses On
-Designing work for wood fire
-Developing clay bodies, slips, and glazes
-Understanding flame, ash, and placement
-Building a coherent body of work over time
-Holding a real, sustainable practice
This is not an introduction to pottery.
It is a transmission of practice.
Applicants should already be making work in clay and be ready to commit to a year of focused development.