Nelson Clay Week

27/08/2026

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Sign up to the Nelson Clay Week News!
- updates on workshops and events
- pointers to the good stuff
- insights and info

Have a read, and if you like what you see, go to www.acn.org.nz and head to the bottom of the webpage.

Hiwa Tāwera - Your Art Space Nelson City Council Nelson Tasman Uniquely Nelson

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Right now we are deep in prep-mode for Clay Week 2026, and we can say with hand-on-heart that it's going to be an incredible week of community, clay and creativity.

07/08/2026

Applications to bring a stall to The Potters Market at Nelson Clay Week Market are open.

The Nelson Clay Week Market takes place on Saturday 3rd October from 9:30 - 13:30 at the top of Trafalgar Street, near 1903 Square.

We're aiming to bring together some of the best local and national maker-sellers of pottery and ceramics. The market takes place as one of our opening events and will be promoted through our website and marketing channels.

If you haven't already done so, please register your interest in a stall by filling in the online form - https://forms.gle/qcz2drAywKDeoF7Z7

Important Dates:

Applications close on 14th August
Traders informed whether their applications successful by 28th August
Payment to secure stall must be made by Monday 14th September
Final instructions and location email sent Friday 25th September



If you have any questions regarding your application, please get in touch.

19/06/2026

Arts Council Nelson and Forsyth Barr are pleased to invite invite submissions for Pushing Clay – Forsyth Barr Ceramics Award & Exhibition 2026.

The Award celebrates originality, with an emphasis on works that stretch the boundaries of traditional practice, and embrace the contemporary, conceptual and unconventional possibilities of working with clay.

Submissions close on Friday 21st August 2026.

With a top prize of $8,000 and two runner-up cash prizes of $1,000 each, generously sponsored by Forsyth Barr, Pushing Clay 2026 aims to inspire and invigorate artists to push their limits and innovate their practise.

See https://www.acn.org.nz/pushingclay for full details.

20/05/2026

Extra Workshop Tickets Now Available!

Missed out on Monday's rush? We may have some good news...

We have just released a number of tickets that were previously on hold, back into the general pool.

Below is a list of all the NCW Workshops that may have been showing as 'sold out' on the website, but now have at least 1 ticket available:

Adapting Clay Bodies
Alternative Low Firings
Anagama Firing (4 Days)
Ancestral Cups
Fast & Slow Wheel Work
Fast Fire - multi day
Figurative Sculpting
Findings | Ceramics + Jewellery
Intentional Making in Clay: Developing Voice and Direction in Your Work
Introduction to Making Taonga Pūoro
Jugs from Paintings
Kids Pottery Class
Making and using Tile Moulds
Nerikomi Blocks and Colouring Clay
Pot-o-graphy
Prototyping Forms for Holding Light
Raku Firing Experimentation
Sculpting with Punch: Clay Creatures & The Stories They Carry - 2 days
Slips, Engobes & Application
Teapot Considerations
Throwing Large
Waka Whenua Workshop
Waking Up to Make Pots to Wake Up To
Wall Vases and Shelves
Whispering Trees, The Secrets to Hand Building Large Sculptures

These tickets will go fast so if you'd like to book, go to the website and snap them up!

17/05/2026

Nelson Clay Week 2026 tickets available now from www.clayweek.co.nz! And a message from Jamie and Thom:...

Tēnā koutou katoa

Nelson Clay Week 2026 is on its way!

We are so excited to share with you this year's programme. 2026 will be ram-pressed full of clay excellence.

In the past few months we have sent more emails than made pots, and have been slowly coaxing potters out from their studios.

All so we can mix together some of the finest potters in the region, and throughout Aotearoa, plus a few special international guests to add to this pug-mill of an event.

This is our third event, and just like a good strong clay body, we have added plenty more grog to the mix. 2026 is loaded with all sorts of clay-full activities; local showcases, markets, exhibitions, workshops, films, demonstrations, and many more events to ensure you get all the opportunities to share tips and slips with your fellow potter.

Sure enough we won't stop there, just like that extra stoke of the kiln, we are not able to help ourselves but to continue adding wood to the flame, or programme, most likely right up to the opening day.

So, like the way of clay, expect a few surprises.

We look forward to seeing you again this October for another great time at Nelson Clay Week.

Ngā mihi nui,

Thom, Jamie & the Clay Week team

Nelson Clay Week | Oct 3-9, 2026

17/05/2026

Make sure you don't miss out...

Workshops fill up fast, so check out our quick-view schedule (available on the Clay Week website) to plan your week ahead of the rush.

Don't forget, we also have over 100 talks, demos, and exhibitions available to book tomorrow—and they are all either FREE or 'Pay What You Want'!

10/05/2026

Kia ora koutou

The Nelson Clay Week 2026 Programme is now available to view on our website - www.clayweek.co.nz.

We have so much to show you - masterclasses, international pottery stars, unique exhibitions, demonstrations, presentations, public displays of clay, fiery happenings and... over 90 events spread throughout the city and beyond.

So head over to the website and start planning your Clay Week!

Programme available to view from Monday 11th May, 10am
Tickets available from Monday 18 May, 10am

Nelson Clay Week | Oct 3-9, 2026

10/05/2026

Programme launches Monday 11th May, 10am
Tickets available from Monday 18th May, 10am

Nelson Clay Week | Oct 3-9, 2026.
www.clayweek.co.nz

31/03/2026

Who's joining us to throw their lives away this October?

Nelson Clay Week | Oct 3-9, 2026.

www.nelsonclayweek.co.nz