About The Potter's Studio

 

In 1971 The Ontario College of Art and Central Technical School were the only places offering pottery classes for a limited number of adult students.  Because there were so few opportunities for serious amateur potters, a group of 12 people conceived the idea of starting a co-operative studio.  With great support from the local potters' community, and the Clay and Glass Association, which is now called Fusion, the Studio was born.

Space was rented at 328 Dupont Street, shelves were built, supplies, equipment and materials were ordered.  By April 1972 the Studio was up and running. The word had spread and membership grew to 40, as well as a waiting list of people who wanted to join.  In June 1977, the sale of the building on Dupont Street necessitated the move to 2 Thorncliffe Park, Unit 16.  By 2002, we were able to accommodate 50 potters.  That year, we received a Trillium Grant to improve the accessibility of our physical space and participate in workshops with not-for-profit community groups and other outreach activities.  In the fall of 2020, we moved a few doors down to a beautifully renovated Unit 19 and also launched our online shop.

Community Outreach

Spark Partnership Projects

In 2020, The Potter’s Studio received funding for two SPARK Partnership Projects from the City of Toronto. The aim was to develop and carry out programming that supports and highlights arts in the North York community.  The projects are free to participants.

The Potter’s Studio has partnered with the Neighbourhood Organization to work with youth (ages 8 to 18) in the area. Volunteers from the Potter’s Studio will organize a number of workshops where these young people can develop hand-building skills with clay. Giving back to the community, the youth will create clay art for the offices of The Neighbourhood Organization.

Our second partner is the North York Women’s Shelter. Using clay, participants will be sculpting and hand-building items for their own use. In addition, these activities will be used as therapy and part of the participants’ healing process.

The Potter’s Studio would like to thank the City of Toronto for these opportunities to celebrate, promote and grow community arts in our neighbourhood.