The Rotorua Potters Group is a community-driven club based in Studio 3 at The Arts Village, Rotorua. Our well-equipped studio features three kilns and offers pottery classes for all levels. We host annual and special exhibitions, organise events that bring the joy of clay to the wider community, and also invite touring potters to run workshops. Governed by a passionate team of volunteers and pottery enthusiasts, we’re dedicated to fostering creativity and connection through the art of pottery.
Meet Our Potters
Meet some of the potters behind the Rotorua Potters Group!
Our History
Learn More About How The Club Started & Our Different Milestones
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In the beginning, there used to be a pottery club located in the Wychwood Nursery on Wychwood Crescent. They had an 'interesting' diesel-fired kiln that eventually collapsed, which seemed symbolic, as the club never recovered.
A former club president, Selwyn Hatrick, recalls arriving in Rotorua and enrolling in a pottery class of around 40 participants held at Boys’ High. They didn’t learn much but left the course with a taste for pottery and wanted more! Bev Cave got things moving, and the club grew from strength to strength, transitioning from a rented room in a local scout den to a double shed at The Arts Village. Membership surpassed 40 at this time.
In the early 2000s, public interest in pottery waned, and membership plummeted to about eight members. Over the next eight years, dedicated club members like Betty Millar and Selwyn persevered, running night classes and specialist workshops to revive pottery in Rotorua.
Today, the club is thriving with over 100 members and a well-resourced studio. Long-time potters continue to run beginners' workshops, keeping the studio open for the community to experience the joy of working with clay.
The Arts Village
We are very lucky to have a permanent home here in Rotorua, supported by The Arts Village, a vibrant community hub dedicated to providing art-based opportunities. Our presence here wouldn't be possible without the ongoing day-to-day support from The Arts Village facilities and their wonderful team, for which we are deeply grateful.
If you’re popping in to see our studio, take a moment to have a look around the village, a home to a large number of arts and cultural groups who meet regularly. In addition, they have a co-op-run shop that sells a variety of locally made arts and crafts and an independently run café onsite. The Arts Village also has three art galleries that have new and exciting art exhibitions on display throughout the year.
The Arts Village Open Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 3.30 pm
Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm
Closed Mondays, Sundays, & Public Holidays.