Intermediate Wheel Throwing Two-week course
A two-week intermediate wheel throwing immersion: refine technique, throw bottles, vases and lidded containers, and develop a personal project.
Is this course right for you?
This course is right for you if:
- You can already independently and autonomously centre +1.5kg of clay
- You already have a hand at doing bowls and have tried larger objects, but could use some help throwing above 2kg
- You are a ceramics student or practising ceramicist with wheel-throwing foundations and wish to perfect your skills
- You want to practise throwing taller, thinner, more regular pieces
- You want to practise throwing larger pieces and centering larger amounts of clay
- You want to learn to throw more complex shapes: vases, bottles and necks, lidder containers, teapots, etc…
- You already have intermediate experience on the wheel and you simply want a chance to spend a whole week practising without worrying about anything else
Dates & availability
8–21 Nov 2026
with Luca della Maddalena · Studio 2 · €2,350
14–27 Feb 2027
with Chiara Zoppei · Studio 1 · €2,450
7–20 Mar 2027
· Studio 2 · €2,550
28 Mar – 10 Apr 2027
with Luca della Maddalena · Studio 1 · €2,550
11–24 Jul 2027
with Lucia Ocejo · Studio 3 · €2,550
25 Jul – 7 Aug 2027
with Luca della Maddalena · Studio 1 · €2,550
19 Sep – 2 Oct 2027
with Chiara Zoppei · Studio 1 · €2,550
14–27 Nov 2027
with Míriam Seguí Carbonell · Studio 1 · €2,550
About this course
This two-week intermediate course is designed for those who can already confidently and consistently centre and throw around 1kg of clay, and are ready to push their skills further in a focused, supportive environment.
You’ll refine your technique, improve consistency, and explore more complex forms such as: bottles, vases and necks, lidded containers, and altered shapes. You will build the confidence to throw larger shapes and improve consistency to produce series of identical pieces. In the second week, you'll have time and guidance to develop a personal project, experimenting with new ideas and building on your strengths.
With daily immersive practice, you’ll progress faster than in a regular studio setting, gaining greater fluency on the wheel and a clearer sense of your own direction as a maker.
At the end of the retreat, you’ll choose which pieces to have fired, glazed, and shipped. Firing will take place after the course, once the work is fully dry.
Your teachers
2026 Dates
15th February - 28th February, 2026 - Marta Vino
17th May - 30th May, 2026 - Anas Rifi-Zinati
8th November - 21st November, 2026 - Luca della Maddalena
Discover the territory/ Discover Sicily
During this week, 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
- Seasonal cultural excursions
(📷 by Sabela Andrés @sabelaandres)
Arrival and Departure
We ask that you plan your arrival for Sunday. We have an included pick-up from either Palermo Centre (in front of Hotel Politeama) at 11:30 or Palermo Airport at 12:30. On Sunday afternoon (circa 16:30, subject to change), you will be welcomed to Salemi by one of our team members, who will take you on an orientation walk of the historical centre. This will be followed by a welcome apericena (light dinner) with a Salemi Spritz at one of our favourite local restaurants.
We will bid you farewell at the end of your time in Salemi with an included transfer to either Palermo Airport or Palermo Centre (Piazza Politeama), departing Salemi at 07:00 on Saturday morning.
**For pick-ups and drop-offs outside of these times and locations, please contact us for a transfer quote.
Schedule of the week＋
This is an intensive learning week! Teaching is primarily group-based with moments of individual feedback built in. Please note this is not one-on-one tuition.
You will be in the studio from Monday at 09:00 through to approximately 17:00 on Friday afternoon. Studio time is a combination of teaching and non-teaching time. You can expect a typical day to look like this:
08:00 - Yoga in the courtyard (optional)
09:00 - 13:00 - Studio (teaching with a coffee/tea break at 10:30 in the courtyard)
13:00 - Shared lunch in the courtyard
14:00 - 16:30 - Free Studio Time - Afternoon studio hours are primarily self-directed practice, with your teacher available in the studio for guidance
19:00 - Dinners are a combination of eating at local restaurants, home restaurants, and in-house at the studio
Please note
Our program is carefully designed to balance teaching, practice, meals, and cultural experiences, and we do our best to follow the planned schedule. However, all times and activities are indicative and may shift with the season, the weather, or the needs of the group. Studio sessions, meals, and excursions may be adjusted, rescheduled, or substituted at our discretion. Flexibility is part of the Salemi Ceramics experience, and we believe these small changes often add to the richness of your time with us.
During the weekend, the studio will be closed. You will be free to organise your own weekend plans or participate in one of our optional weekend activities.
What you'll take home＋
Although the course is focused 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
- There is an extra charge of 25€/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 separately (we’ll provide you with a shipping fee document closer to the date)
What happens after you book
- 1
Book your date
Secure your spot on WeTravel with the deposit or the full amount.
- 2
Confirmation
Two confirmation emails arrive - one from WeTravel, one from us - plus a short form for your personal and travel details.
- 3
60 days before
If you paid a deposit, the balance is due now. Reminders come 7 days before, 3 days before and on the day.
- 4
30 days before
Your course info pack: arrival and departure details, course structure, useful tips, transfer and shipping costs.
- 5
10 days before
You'll be invited to the course WhatsApp group and receive the shipping address form. Then - see you in Salemi!
Common questions
Can I pay a deposit instead of the full amount?＋
Yes - paying the deposit confirms your place. The balance is due 60 days before the course starts, and you'll get automated reminders so nothing sneaks up on you.
What happens right after I book?＋
Two confirmation emails (WeTravel + Salemi Ceramics) and a short form for your personal and travel details. Everything else - info pack, WhatsApp group - follows automatically in the weeks before your course.
What if I need to cancel or change dates?＋
Contact us as early as possible and we'll look at options together. The full cancellation and transfer terms are in the Terms and Conditions.
Do I need to prove my skill level?＋
Beginner courses need no experience at all. Intermediate and advanced courses ask for a short self-assessment before booking, so we can make sure the course fits where you are.
More in the booking guide and FAQs.
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Next date: 14 February 2027