What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 1pm - 6pm Wednesday 1pm - 6pm Thursday 1pm - 6pm Friday 1pm - 6pm Saturday 1pm - 6pm

Claymakers

Claymakers is a nonprofit ceramics studio, building community in Durham NC since 2000 through clay education.

We offer 100+ weekly classes per year, a supply store, firing services, and studio spaces for artists of all levels to grow and create. Claymakers is a nonprofit community ceramics studio serving Durham since 2000. Our mission is to foster a thriving ceramics community by connecting individuals through education, resources, and support. We’re committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive space where

people can explore and deepen their passion for ceramics. Each year, we offer over 100 classes and workshops for adult learners of all skill levels in wheel-throwing, sculpture, and handbuilding, decorating, and firing. Our supply store equips artists and schools with the materials they need to create and arranges firing services, while our private studios provide independent artists with the space to advance their work.

08/12/2026

🧪 Glaze chem in action!🧪

In Part 2 of 'sGlaze Chemistry class, students put what they learned in Part 1 to work, creating mosaics with self-formulated glazes ranging from glossy greens to matte, lichen-textured surfaces. This past weekend, they assembled their pieces with Marie’s guidance—and just look at how good they turned out!

08/11/2026

Are you ready to fall in love with clay? Session 6 classes are almost here! Registration opens this Friday, August 14th at 12 pm sharp.

Choose from 18 classes in wheel throwing, handbuilding, and sculpture at all levels, including special topics like:

• Sculpting scary monsters with Anna
• ~Spooky intermediate wheel~ with Katie
• Carbon trapping with shinos with Liz

Check out the full lineup at claymakers.org/classes, and set your alarm—classes fill fast! We can’t wait to welcome you back into the studio 🍂

07/29/2026

Are you interested in trying out clay? Our One-Time Workshops are the perfect opportunity to dip your toe into the world of pottery. Grab a friend or loved one (or join solo and meet some cool new folks!) and hop on a pottery wheel under the guidance of an experienced instructor. Our next 1x "Intro to Wheel" workshop is coming up on Friday, August 14th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Sign up at www.claymakers.org/classes ⚱⚱⚱

07/28/2026

Coming up NEXT WEEKEND! We're excited to welcome Gillian Parke to Claymakers on August 9–10 for a hands-on workshop exploring her richly layered approach to porcelain.

If you've been curious about working with porcelain, feldspathic inclusions, decals, or lusters, this is a great opportunity to learn from an artist who seamlessly combines these techniques to create lush, maximalist surfaces.

Whether you're looking to expand your surface vocabulary or dive into new materials, you won't want to miss this one.

Reserve your spot today at claymakers.org/classes.

07/25/2026

We're thrilled to welcome the Claymakers Gallery back with 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚, a collaborative exhibition curated by Anna Schroeder.

Featuring 40 ceramic artworks created through collaborations between 14 potters and 20 tattoo artists, the show brings together the distinct artistic practices of ceramics and tattooing. Each piece is the result of a unique creative partnership, exploring what can emerge when artists work across disciplines.

All artwork will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, August 7, from 7–9 pm. Meet many of the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and enter raffles for a Claymakers pottery class or tattoo credits with participating artists.

For more information about 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 and the Claymakers Gallery, visit claymakers.org/current-exhibition.

07/23/2026

A lot can happen in a week...

While the studio was closed between sessions, our crew was hard at work transforming part of our building into the new Claymakers Gallery, along with much-needed staff office and storage space. After years on pause following our 2020 move, we're so excited to bring gallery programming back to Claymakers.

While we had the tools out, we tackled a few other studio upgrades, too:
• New shelving and work tables in the sculpture and handbuilding studio
• ❄CLIMATE CONTROL❄ in the glazing area

Thanks to our incredible volunteers--Annie, Jane, Ronnie, and Tam--for lending your time, skills, tools, and muscle. And an extra-special shoutout to Bec, who led our crew through the build—we truly couldn't have made this happen without you!

The Claymakers Gallery is almost ready, and we can't wait to share it with you. Stay tuned for more information about our first exhibition, opening August 7th 💫

07/10/2026

Spots are still available in some GREAT Session 5 Classes! Head over to www.claymakers.org/classes to snag your spot today. Classes begin Sunday, July 19th and run through Saturday, July 29th! We'll be glad to see you 😎

07/09/2026

Do you love power tools and moving heavy things? Then we need your help!

We're building out our new gallery space next week and are looking for volunteers each day to help with framing, drywall, painting, and other hands-on projects.

If that sounds like your kind of fun, sign up at tinyurl.com/cmgalleryvols! 🔨

07/07/2026

Heads up! Claymakers will be closed next week--July 12th–18th--for our annual summer studio break.

We’ll be taking the week to reset the studio and get ready for the back half of the year. That means no supply store or studio access during that time—so if you need to pick up supplies, now’s the time!

We're working on an exciting construction project that will impact the Sculpture & Handbuilding studio, so if you have work on any shelf in that space, it needs to leave the building by Saturday, July 11th. We don't want to harm any work during our construction project!

Session 5 classes begin Sunday, July 19th, and the supply store will reopen at 1 pm on Tuesday, July 21st. We'll see you on the flip side 🤠

07/04/2026

Heads up! Claymakers is closed for July 4th: no classes, open studio or supply store hours today.

Classes resume tomorrow, July 5th, and open studio & supply store hours resume on Tuesday, July 7th. See ya then!

Address

470 Salem Street
Durham, NC
27703

Opening Hours

Tuesday	1pm - 6pm
Wednesday	1pm - 6pm
Thursday	1pm - 6pm
Friday	1pm - 6pm
Saturday	1pm - 6pm

Telephone

+19195308355

Website

http://www.claymakers.org/

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