Listing by State
This list is an ongoing project. If you currently offer apprenticeships and would like to be added to the list please click here.
Arkansas
Joe Bruhin (Fox, Arkansas)
California
Forest Lesch-Middleton (Petaluma, CA)
Connecticut
Todd Piker / Cornwall Bridge Pottery (Cornwall Bridge, CT)
(860) 946-9679
PO Box 134. 69 Kent Rd South, Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754 USA
Details: Although historically a room and board with stipend position there have been occasions when, given the level of training and in-house need, that this position is elevated to a Journeyman status and a higher pay scale is given. The generally accepted term of training is 2 years; 4 years, although often achieved with past Apprentices, is the maximum length of time.
This is an opportunity to work alongside myself and enter a family of potters that have direct lineage, through Michael Cardew, to the Leach legacy at St Ives.
Massachusetts
Mark Shapiro (Worthington, MA)
Chris Gustin (Dartmouth, MA)
Gustinceramics.com
(508) 636-6213
231 Horseneck Rd, Dartmouth, MA 02748 USA
Details: 1-2 year internship, living and studio space included. Intern pays for apartment utilities, clay and firings. 20 hours of work per week required, additional hours intern gets paid.
Steve Theberge (Northampton, MA)
(413) 658-5788
221 Pine St, #351, Florence, MA 01062 US
Details: The goal of this apprenticeship is to learn and understand the practical, administrative, and creative work involved in running a professional ceramics studio. The apprentice is expected to be self-motivated, observant, and proactive. They should take initiative to complete their tasks independently, ask for instruction when needed, and make the smooth and efficient operation of the studio their first priority.
Apprentice tasks include, but are not limited to:
Preparing and recycling clay
Mixing and preparing glazes and slips
Studio cleaning and upkeep (vacuuming, mopping, trash removal, recycling, etc)
Loading and unloading bisque kilns
Assisting with glazing
Assisting with loading and firing the gas kiln
Sanding, washing, pricing, and packing finished work.
Organization and inventory of materials and supplies
Assisting with local exhibitions, sales, and shows
The apprentice will receive studio space, unlimited access to materials, equipment, and firing, regular formal critiques of their work, and occasional lessons and instruction. The apprentice is expected to put substantial time and effort into developing their own creative skills and creating a body of work reflective of their training. They will be introduced and connected to the larger ceramics community here in Western Massachusetts and as their work matures and develops they may have the opportunity to display and sell their work at studio sales and exhibitions.
Minnesota
Renee Zeleny (Rice, MN)
(320) 333-3380
10382 West Lake Road, Rice, MN 56367 United States
Details: Renee Zeleny is offering a one year apprenticeship position is for someone interested in learning all facets of business as a professional production studio potter. Emulating her mentors’ approach to Japanese style studio production, the apprentice will learn, at minimum, all introductory aspects of Japanese production pottery methods. The apprentice will also be offered a ceramic artist residency at the Little Falls' Great River Art’s Ceramic Clay Center which includes a personal studio space. Compensation, housing, and transportation will not be provided. The right person for this position must be someone who strives to be kind, patient, hard working, flexible, open minded, diligent, and at times fastidious about cleanliness. Also, they must be willing to set aside throwing and trimming techniques that they already know in order to learn the traditional Japanese techniques.
During the initial throwing-off-the hump learning period, process rather than product will be emphasized. Therefore, it is possible that the apprentice will keep just 1 piece per day until uniformity is actualized. The apprentice is expected to train and practice diligently to master the methods taught. Once muscle memory is accomplished, progress can swiftly be made to other forms and shapes all of which the apprentice may produce as they like.
Renee will strive to nurture the apprentice to increase their knowledge and capacity to have a productive life long relationship with clay. Daily tasks will vary. Some of the jobs may include: pugging/recycling clay; making glazes; assist with product refinement; loading, firing and unloading kilns, and cleaning the Blue Note Pottery studio and kiln shed.
This position requires 15 hours of time per week to support both Renee's studio activities and the art organization’s community outreach programs.
The apprentice will receive an Artist Residency position at the Little Fall’s Great River Arts Clay Center which will include a studio space, materials, tools, and firings. Work assignments may include assisting Renee in implementing community outreach programs designed to benefit hungry and homeless people; overseeing clay center’s studio operations; assisting and teaching introductory clay classes to small groups on and off site (may receive a stipend as compensation in certain situations), and giving tours of the clay center. The clay center is located in the lower level of the building and at times some of the adjoining space is shared with other forms of artistic activities. It will be the apprentice’s responsibility to see to it that the clay center is kept clean and tidy.
Beyond the 15 hours of varied labor for Renee's studio and the clay center, the apprentice will be free to create their own work, and receive critiques with each firing. The apprentice will assist Renee with her clay orders over time based on their capacity and level of skill. Firings will take place both at the clay center with an electric kiln, and at her studio's 40 cubic foot sprung arch, downdraft, cone 10 reduction gas kiln.
Montana
Tara Wilson (Montana City, MT)
(406) 426-0998
64 Holmes Gulch Rd, Montana City, MT 59634 USA
Details: My studio is located just outside of Helena, Montana. I have been hosting apprentices / assistants since 2009. Including my current assistants, there have been 17 individuals to pass through my program from 2009 - spring 2020. The current program consists of 8 hours per week in exchange for studio space, there is no money exchanged. The program is a yearly program with an option to stay for 2 years. More information on the program as well as past assistants can be found on my website http://www.tarawilsonpottery.com/assistant-application
Mississippi
Brian Nettles (Pass Christian, MS)
New Mexico
Logan Wannamaker (El Prado, NM)
Logan Wannamaker
(575) 770-4334
8 Hozho Road, El Prado, NM 87529 USA
Details: This apprenticeship is as established in 2015 and offers gallery representation, private studio, materials, access to wood, salt, electric with personal electric kiln. The ability to resource and process local materials with ball mill and clay mixer and pugger. There is opportunity for financial reimbursement through gallery sales. The apprenticeship is generally a year long and a personal interview is recommended.
New York
Jeff Shapiro (Accord, NY)
Annie Schiffer / Rochester Folk Art Guild (Rochester, NY)
(585) 554-5463
1445 Upper Hill Rd, Middlesex, New York 14507 USA
Details: We offer pottery apprenticeships in a studio which creates functional work, mostly high fired reduction stoneware in a propane kiln and a smaller woodfire soda kiln. The studio is in rural New York State on a 360 acre farm and craft community set in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of hills, fields, and vineyards. The apprenticeship is traditional, with requirements for a dedicated student who is willing to learn, work long hours, and make persistent efforts to master the craft. Most apprentices live on our farm with a fee for living expenses.
The expectation is for the first few months of learning for the student's help in the studio to pay for the learning experience. As he or she progresses, scholarship money can become available for living expenses. All work belongs to the Guild and is signed with the pottery stamp.
Most apprenticeships are for at least a year or more.
Internships for shorter periods of time are sometimes available with slightly different requirements.
We are interested in training students who will continue on in the craft, either on their own or at the Guild, and have a deep love for pottery and hard work . The context of living and working at the Folk Art Guild is in community, sharing a life with others, helping out with farm chores of daily living, eating together and sharing experiences. I began my apprenticeship at the Guild in 1972, and have trained many potters in the years since I learned the craft. It is always a joy to meet and work with new students.
Adam Chau (Port Chester, NY)
40 Sherman Street, Port Chester, NY 10573 United States
Details: Small private studio in Port Chester, NY. 15 minute walk from Clay Art Center (nationally recognized ceramic art center/gallery). Apprentices usually stay 3-6 months - must find own housing. Wage rate upon request.
North Carolina
Mark Hewitt (Pittsboro, NC)
Daniel Johnston (Seagrove, NC)
http://Danieljohnstonpottery.com
(336) 963-4845
PO Box 128, 6265 Sugg Dr, Seagrove, NC 27341 USA
daniel@danieljohnstonpottery.com
Details: Two to three years, Paid position, in Seagrove NC.
Kate Waltman (Seagrove, NC)
Michael Hunt & Naomi Dalglish / Bandana Pottery (Bakersville, NC)
Matt Jones (Leicester, NC)
William Baker & Joy Tanner / Woodsong Pottery (Bakersville, NC)
Joseph Sand (Randleman, NC)
(612) 518-4051
2555 George York Rd, Randleman, NC 27317 USA
Details: Two year recommended period. Paid with raises every four months.
Ohio
Naysan McIlhargey / Miami Valley Pottery (Yellow Springs, OH)
Cary Hulin / Holmes County Pottery (Big Prarie, OH)
Vermont
Highland Pottery (South Burlington, VT)
Virginia
Sylvie Granatelli (Meadows of Dan, VA)
Washington
Robbie Lobell / Cook on Clay (Coupeville, WA)
Darby Huffman (Port Townsand, WA)
Darby Huffman
(360) 301-5646
2009 4th street #B, Port Townsend, WA 98368 USA
Details: We have been in business 16 years and have hosted 13 previous apprentices. We currently have three apprentices working in our studio. We pay piece work so our apprentices have the ability to control their income. We teach production throwing of eating and drinking ware that we sell in the local market. Most of our apprentices stay with us 1 to 3 years.
Wisconsin
Simon Levin (Gresham, WI)
Zac Spates (Hudson, WI)
Steve Rolf (River Falls, WI)
West Virginia
Joy Bridy (Shenandoah Junction, WV)