Beginners Program

Two-week Introduction to Wheel Throwing

This course is a two-week introduction to the art of wheel throwing, during which you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the practice of ceramics while also enjoying the tranquil pleasures of Sicilian life.

During the course you will learn the basics of wheel throwing: wedging, centering, throwing cups and bowls and trimming your pieces. In week two you will be able to up your level and learn to make small vases, boxes and more complex shapes. You will have a unique chance to fully immerse yourself in the practice of wheel throwing, making progress that would take you months of 3h-a-week practice. You'll walk away with a solid foundation in wheel throwing which will allow you to throw your own pieces from scratch once back home.

By the end of the retreat you will have the opportunity to choose which pieces you would like fired, glazed and shipped to you. As pieces need approximately a week to dry out, this will be done for you once the retreat has concluded.

Outcome

Although the course is focussed on learning rather than making pieces, you will be able to keep some of the pieces you make:

  • The course includes the firing and glazing of up to 6kg of dry clay (that’s plenty of pieces for a beginner!)
  • There is an extra charge of 20€/kg of clay for firing and glazing of more than 6kg of clay
  • All pieces will be glazed with a standard transparent high temperature glaze
  • We do not ship unglazed bisque pieces, as the chances of them breaking during shipping are too high
  • Shipping costs are charged extra, and can vary from 70€ for 6kg for Germany, to 150€ for  6kg shipped to the US

Who is the course right for?

This course is right for you if:

  • you love ceramics but you've never really tried before
  • you've tried other techniques but have never dared trying wheel-throwing
  • you’ve tried wheel throwing before but have never learned to centre independently, or struggle to centre clay in general
  • you've tried the wheel before but you've never given yourself a chance to really practise and learn, and you simply want a chance to spend a whole week practising on the wheel without worrying about anything else
  • you’re ready to devote 2 full weeks to learning a new craft

Experience Sicily

During these two weeks, you won’t just get a ceramics course. We’ve also organised a program of activity so that you can connect with Sicilian culture, get to know beautiful Salemi and its rich history and territory. 

You will:

  • Eat breakfast like the locals do in our favourite local bars
  • Enjoy meals in a variety of authentic, local Sicilian restaurants / home-restaurants
  • Carry out at least one excursion to a local cultural heritage site, either Gretto di Burri or Segesta archaeological site

EUR €2250
Beginners Program
Two-week Introduction to Wheel Throwing
1st June - 14th June 2025
20th July - 2nd August 2025
14th September - 27th September 2025
Learn from our resident teacher
Daily local activities
Check Availability

What's Included

  • Ceramics classes and mentorship by established ceramicists
  • All materials
  • Palermo Airport pick-up (12 noon Sunday) or Palermo City Pick Up (11am Sunday). There is an additional charge for any pick-ups at other times
  • Return Palermo Airport transfer and Palermo City drop off on Saturday, departing Salemi at 7am
  • 2 x Yoga and 2 x meditation classes
  • All meals and non-alcoholic beverages from Sunday dinner through to Saturday breakfast
  • Glazing and firing a max of 6kg of pieces (this will be done after the retreat has finished)

What's Not Included

  • Accommodation
  • Shipping of pieces that will be fired by the studio
  • Additional cost for firing/glazing more than 6kg of pieces (it’s 20€/kg for each extra kg of clay)
  • Alcoholic beverages

The Project

The Salemi School of Ceramics is a social enterprise that has been opened to create a learning centre for contemporary ceramics, the first of its kind in Sicily.

The School has been created in partnership with the local town of Salemi, which has provided the gorgeous space - the Sant'Agostino Monastery - that will be used for the school.

Salemi has a gorgeous historical centre and because it is quiet and peaceful, it is the perfect place for a mindful ceramics retreat.

(📷 by Sabela Andrés @sabelaandres)

Meet the team

Our team is passionate about bringing Salemi to life and providing you with an authentic Sicilian experience