Studio
Maker residency
Residency kits with benches, marks, and shared jigs.
Outcome
A residency that starts on day one.
Steps
- Book studio week
- Install bench
- Stamp door mark
Maker residency: your week in the atelier
The maker residency starts with your arrival at our Woodstock atelier on a Monday morning, where our team welcomes you and walks you through your dedicated space. First order of business is unpacking your kit: a Studio Bench ready for assembly, a set of common ceramics jigs, and your own Maker Mark Brass to stamp your work and the studio door. You’ll find everything prepped, from clamps to clay slip and timber offcuts, so you can get hands-on straight away.
On day one, you install your Studio Bench near the north window for good morning light. The benches are compact enough to shift easily if you want to catch the afternoon sun or join another resident for a chat. After coffee, you’ll go through the shared Ceramic Studio Jigs. These jigs make it straightforward to turn out consistent plate or vessel blanks, whether you’re new to clay or coming in with ten years of throwing in Durban humidity.
Midweek is for deep making. Our team checks in with you to see if you need extra hand tools or have ideas for improving jigs. You’ll use the Maker Mark Brass to stamp your initials on your work and right on the studio door, marking this residency as yours for the week. By Friday, you’ve made a tidy run of objects, left your mark, and packed up your bench. We finish by taking a group photo in the stoep with the week’s makes lined up.
Residency checklist: keeping the Maker week moving
A smooth residency needs a few practical checks. Here’s what we use to keep every week on track, whether it’s a school ceramics teacher or a Joburg sculptor in for a collab:
- Confirm studio week booking and brief two days before arrival.
- Lay out and check all kit parts: bench, jigs, mark, tools.
- Assist with bench assembly on arrival. Test for stability and comfort.
- Ensure ceramic jigs are cleaned and returned daily.
- Mark studio door with Maker Mark Brass by end of first session.
Common pitfalls and how we catch them
The most frequent issue is a missing tool or incomplete kit, especially when a school books for a group. To avoid this, we do a double check of all parts on Saturday and again Sunday evening before your Monday arrival. Forgetting to stamp the door or return a jig can happen when the making gets busy. Our team does a daily walkthrough, looking for stray jigs or unmarked benches, and gently reminds residents at tea time.
Sometimes, residents rearrange benches and forget to leave a clear path for the bakkie or kiln. We’ve marked out routes in the studio and use small cones to keep these free. If a new maker is shy about using the jigs, we pair them with a regular for the first session. If anything feels off, from a wobbly bench to a sticky wheel, raise it right away. We’re reachable all week at atelier@creationafrica.co.za so nothing slows you down.