Danijela Antic

Mikaela is a Bulgarian who occasionally enjoys moving countries. Born in a small town with a declining population, she felt an immediate pull toward what Salemi Ceramics is doing through art. In 2024, she spent six months in Salemi getting to know the region, the locals, the artistic hub, and the expat community slowly forming around it. Mika’s that friend who organises a fun activity, rounds everyone up, and makes sure it turns into something worth remembering. At Salemi Ceramics, she’s the one making sure you hear about all the initiatives we’ve been working on. So if you hear about a course that’s already sold out and realise you never got the memo… you know which way to smash a tiny pot of frustration.

Carla is Italian-British, born in Naples and shaped by over a decade living and working across London, the UAE, Denmark, and beyond, before choosing Sicily as home. With a background in project management and team operations spanning creative industries, start-ups, and education, and an MSc in Sustainable Heritage Management from UCL, she knows the magic happens in the studio only when everything runs smoothly out of sight. As General Manager, Carla is the connector between Salemi Ceramics' on-site and remote international teams, bringing both the operational rigour and the human warmth that a thriving international creative hub demands.

Francesco was born and raised in Salemi. With a deep passion for history and religion, he’s the perfect local to introduce you to the stories and spirit of the region. He has worked with archaeological sites across Western Sicily and the local tourism office - so he really knows his way around (and pretty much everyone in town too). An active volunteer at local festivals and celebrations, Francesco is always ready to lend a hand or share a story.He’s been our studio guide since the very beginning. He was also one of the first locals to complete the local ceramics course program at Salemi Ceramics. Each week, he welcomes our students with a Sunday evening orientation walk and often hosts dinners in the cloister. He also supports the studio with accommodation logistics and transport for our teachers and resident artists.Kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming, Francesco makes you feel at home from the moment you arrive.

Rebeca and Mat are the creatives behind The Salemi Studio Project. They have worked alongside locals and the Salemi council to bring this project to life. Rebeca and Mat are also the founders of Leatherback Travel, a Group which incorporates multiple travel brands including Patch Adventures, and Magnificent Rail, amongst others,which have brought thousands of travellers to unique places around the world.

Mati is an Italian ceramicist based between Salemi and Barcelona, with 10 years of experience working with and teaching ceramics. She is the Ceramics Manager at Salemi Ceramics, in charge of the ceramics program, ceramics residencies and installations, and technical ceramics operations. She was also our first teacher, and occasionally still teaches some of our courses

Chiara is a Salemitana, born and raised in Salemi. She is studying foreign languages and literature and, for some years now, has discovered a passion for tourism and everything related to travel. She is a cheerful person, representing Salemi's vibe: sunny and warm. Chiara is the right hand of Carla, helping with all the daily tasks around the courses and students.

Alex was born and raised in Romania before moving to Salemi after finding love. Passionate about ceramics, she taught herself about glazing and firing techniques. Alex is the right hand of our teachers, preparing clay for classes and carefully handling all finished pieces, from firing and glazing to preparing them for shipment.