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About
Our History
The Gloucester Pottery School was founded in 1991 by Rosemary Swan. We are an incorporated not-for-profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors.
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We have grown from a very small entity operating out of a basement studio in the Cyrville Community Centre. Over the years we expanded into the whole of CCC’s basement. In June of 2009 we were able to expand still further when we moved to the new Shenkman Arts Centre.
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Our Facility
The Gloucester Pottery School is the largest and best equipped ceramics studio in the region.
Our school has 3 classrooms, 22 electric potters wheels, 4 electric kilns, a Bailey Gas Kiln, a pugmill, slab roller, and a wall extruder along with a great selection of hand tools. We take cleanliness very seriously, we have state-of-the-art air filtration system, all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned after each booking and the floors are professionally surfaced frequently.
Our Programs
We offer pottery courses for adults, teens, and children. In addition, we have Parent and Me for 6 – 10 year olds to participate with a parent or guardian.
Gloucester Pottery School also offers Summer Camps for children and teens, professional pottery workshops by visiting artists and we give workshops for numerous groups including at present: Children’s Birthday Parties, youth organizations, Corporate Team Building, School classes and for Special Occasions as well as Special Needs groups. Private lessons are also available.
We operate the Dust Evans Gallery which showcases six professional artists each year.
Rosemary Swan
From the Founding Director:
“It is well known that there are more than creative benefits to pottery making. The very act of focusing on a given project you are creating actually frees the mind from the cares of the world you may be carrying and in turn can act as a therapy. This focus also allows your creative process to come into play and then there is the added bonus of having this special piece that is truly your own work, be there for others to enjoy and as a reminder of what you can achieve.”
Our Partners and Sponsors
We gratefully acknowledge the support of:
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Through this grant the Gloucester Pottery School improved accessibility of the school removing several of the barriers to ceramic education in Ottawa. The school’s mandate states that the school will provide pottery courses and provide a welcoming space and in a facility with equipment of the highest possible health and safety standards. This project has allowed the school to more fully fulfill it’s mandate than it has previously been able to. In the past ceramics education at GPS and other studios in the region has been limited (by cost and physical building spaces) to those that are able to enter the spaces and use the existing equipment/studio. With this project and by purchasing adjustable height tables, an adjustable height barrier free adaptive pottery wheel and by installing barrier free sinks Gloucester Pottery School has opened up ceramics education to a greater portion of the community. This project has also improved the ergonomics and health of safety for many more of the students. Project Completed December 2021.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the City of Ottawa Cultural Facilities Fund for funding our project: Improvements to Gloucester Pottery School Accessibility
Board of Directors
Gloucester Pottery School is an incorporated not-for-profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board is currently looking for new members that can assist in the continued success adn growth of the school. We are always seeking individuals with legal, financials, non-profit, governance experience. Priority given to individuals from equity seeking groups. Please fill out the form below if you would like to discuss this opportunity.
We’d love to hear from you!
Shenkman Arts Center | 245 Centrum Blvd. | Ottawa, ON K1E 0A1
Admin: 613-424-2888 | email
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