A relaxing tactile experience
Whether you’re looking to experience clay for the first time or are seeking a fun filled creative activity — our Experience Classes offer hands-on learning for a variety of student types, abilities, and interests. Be it a themed class like Date Night With Clay, a privately scheduled business retreat, a school field trip, or a nonprofit partnership — no matter the group type, in two hours, you’ll discover a creative outlet sure to bring a relaxing tactile experience.
Experience classes are 2 hour classes that meet once. Students can expect to make a project during their class, which we will then glaze and fire. Pieces made in Experience Classes are typically ready for pick up two weeks after their event.
Previous Classes offered Below; Winter/Spring 2025 Coming Jan 31st!
Dirty Date Night
Looking for a date night that’s muddy, fun, and results in a handmade bowl of your very own!? Join us at The Bray for a couples throwing night that’s sure to energize any relationship. Romance NOT required, bring your partner, spouse, or friend to this crash course on the wheel. Ages 18+
Bray Clay Throwdown
Test your skills, push your creative limits and try your hand at the pottery wheel in this energy filled clay class at The Bray. We won’t judge the results but we do except a good time to be had by all! Ages 16+
Family Ornament Making
Create your very own handmade holiday ornaments in this family friendly class! Cut, carve, texture, and color your way to individualized ornaments perfect for decorating your home or giving as unique gifts.
Coffee and Clay
Develop your wheel-throwing skills while creating your very own functional coffee mug and connecting with good company. BYO coffee, pastries, and other snacks are welcome! Ages 16+
Hand Built Cup or Mug
Create a custom cup or mug right in time for gift giving season while experiencing the relaxing and pleasant process of hand building in clay. Treat yourself or your loved ones to a handmade object that can be enjoyed on a daily basis! Ages 16+
Pottery Spin
Learn the foundations of how to throw on the pottery wheel. Discover what terms like centering, opening, pulling, compressing, and shaping mean all while becoming aware of how the clay responds to your hands touch. Ages 16+
Costs and Options
Our Experience Classes are $55 per student which includes instructional time, supplies, and all material and firing costs. If you are unable to pick up your pieces and need them shipped, shipping is available (fees apply).
If you're a nonprofit or school group, please check out our Engagement Programming for discounted rates and tailormade programs!
Types of Experiences:
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Handbuilding
Create a bowl, cup, mug, plate, vase, or sculptural item in a Handbuilding Experience Class! Your instructor will give you step by step guidance so you're sure to have a good time and go home (after the processing period) with a fully functional or decorative piece of art!
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Wheel Throwing
Less about product and more about process, a Wheel Throwing Experience class is a great way to discover what the pottery wheel has to offer. This experience requires an open mind and a good attitude as the wheel is harder than it looks, but is oh so much fun!
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Tailor Made
Customize an experience that meets your class or groups objectives!
- Tailor an experience class to align with student curriculum or special subjects in your classroom
- Example: Creating habitats out of clay!
- Tailor an experience to build teambuilding and communication
- Example: A two-person wheel throwing experience!
- And so much more
- work with our Education Manager to develop an experience that's right for you! education@archiebray.org
- To schedule your group (of 6 or more), please email us with your desired date, time, and any special accommodations.
- A minimum of 2 weeks advance notice is required.
- Tailor an experience class to align with student curriculum or special subjects in your classroom
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FAQ
Past Experience Classes
LGBTQ+ Clay At The Bray; Slab Bowls
July 11th, Tuesday, 6-8pm
Join the Bray for a night of creative exploration in clay! Make your very own functional bowl, while enjoying community and conversation. Open to and reserved as a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. Ages 16+
REGISTRATION CLOSED
LGBTQ+ Clay At The Bray; Cup or Mug
August 12th, Saturday, 2-4pm
Join the Bray for a night of creative exploration in clay! Make a unique cup or mug, while enjoying community and conversation. Open to and reserved as a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. Ages 16+
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Fathers and Others; Cups and Mugs
June 1st, Saturday, 2-4pm
Get ready for Fathers day and join us at The Bray for a special Fathers and Others Cups and Mugs family class! Create a one of a kind, slab built and hand decorated mug or cup that is sure to impress any father figure in your life. Ages 9+
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Mothers and Others; Raku
May 27th, Saturday, 4-6pm
Step into the world of Raku Firing in this unique Mothers and Others family class at The Bray! We've made the pieces ahead of time so you get to pick out two pieces that speak to you, glaze them to be uniquely yours and experience the fun and excitement of Raku Firing. An exhilarating class for Ages 6+ right in time for Fathers Day.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Sgraffito Inside; Identity Vessels
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
A fun class for anyone looking to expand their surface decorating techniques, explore narrative hand built forms, or get their hands in clay for the first time! Create and decorate a small vessel inspired by artist, Grayson Perry. Ages 16+
Comics on Clay; Vase Edition
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
Take two of this class delivers the same awesome ideas of Comics on Clay; Tile Edition but this time around you’ll be creating and decorating your very own, custom vase! Ages 16+
Comics on Clay; Tile Edition
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
Merge the fascinating worlds of comics and clay in this exciting class! Learn about historical instances of comic-like imagery on ceramics and create your very own decorated ceramic tile(s). Ages 16+
Fantastic Castles for Kids
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
Step into the enchanting realm of narrative sculpture! Craft a fortress or castle sculpture fit for a fairy tale using paper patterns in this whimsical introduction to ceramics. Ages 9-12.
Holiday Ornament Making
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
Cut, stamp, and carve to create your very own custom ornaments out of clay! Find inspiration from the holiday, tradition, or season that best suits you as you learn through demonstration, examples, and hands on guidance in this fun and relaxing class. A must not miss for anyone looking to level up their holiday decor. Ages 16+
Pints & Pals; Drinking Vessels on the Wheel
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
Develop your wheel-throwing skills to create a fun and functional beer-drinking vessel while connecting with good company and enjoying your BYOB! Ages 21+
Dirty Date Night
PREVIOUSLY OCCURED
Looking for a date night that’s muddy, fun, and results in a handmade bowl of your very own!? Join us at The Bray for a couples throwing night that’s sure to energize any relationship. Romance NOT required, bring your partner, spouse, or friend to this crash course on the wheel. Ages 18+
