Turning Earth Studios

Emerging Potters – 24

The Covid pandemic has brought challenges to both studios and individual makers and students.

In order to accommodate social distancing classes, Turning Earth Studios have decided to open its third hub in the heart of East London (Cremer Street).

Classes are also running from the more established Learning Hub Leyton. All their classrooms and classes have adapted to welcome students in the total safety of social distancing and classes restarted in March 2021.

Implemented actions: - fitted Perspex screens where the 2-meter distance is not possible - carried out regular Covid-19 Secure inspections - created stringent cleaning protocols for high contact areas and shared equipment - implemented temperature checks - implemented visors and masks for teachers - implemented amplification for teaching where necessary - require all students to regularly wash hands - require consistent mask-wearing - eliminated bottlenecks by installing more cleaning facilities - implemented ventilation throughout and after classes - carry out deep cleaning after classes July - September 2021

Cremer Street Learning hub

You can have a look at what is available and reserve a spot on their next course on their website: Turningarth.org > Classes > Sign up. They have also 1-week long courses where you can learn everything you'd get in their 12-week beginners' course - plus some extras - in a single week. It's a great way to get going in the craft quickly without the commitment of a weekly time slot. We recommend keeping a close eye on the release date as spaces are selling fast!

Kate Boulton

Kate has always had a huge passion for the arts, taking a pottery class at the age of 16 and then going on to study for a Foundation course in Art & Design in Hull. She then continued her love of art at Leeds Met University, where she received a 2:1 BA Hons in Art & Design. Art then took a slight back seat while following a career in the museum sector.

Finding a local pottery studio in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds, became a delightful springboard for her. Fully equipped with a variety of materials, large kiln space and potters wheels, the studio enabled her to revisit her passion for the arts. There she began working with clay as a therapeutic antidote to the stresses of work and life and became fascinated with the creative processes of producing ceramic art. The work of ceramicists such as Kyra Cane and Bisila Noha inspired Kate to develop her skills further.

Britain has always had a strong history of ceramics, whether for useful or artistic purposes. It was a powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution however its popularity showed a decline around the turn of the 21st century. More recently, the pottery world has seen a resurgence of new and exciting ceramicists, pushing the boundaries in new and exciting ways.