Potters firing up expansion

Marlborough Community Potters are embarking on an ambitious fundraising drive to sculpt plans for an upgraded clubrooms into reality.

Newly-elected Marlborough Community Potters president Tegan Renwick-Foster is “hellbent on a rebuild” to grow the facility to be in line with its flourishing membership.

While the club started with 15 members in 1977, they’re now bursting at the seams of their Dillon’s Point Rd facility with 141 regular potters from age five to 86.

“We’re trying to do this as an incorporated society run with volunteer hours, so we’re opening all avenues for fundraising with Glaze and Sip evenings at Small Town Winery, classes, corporate workshops, pop-up events and selling works at markets around the region”, Tegan says.

“So, if you see Marlborough Community Potters around the region, it’s all with our clubrooms rebuild in mind which would allow more people to get involved in what is a great, passionate group.

“The building itself is 70 years old, having been built after World War Two by Rex Bright – it’s been a former joiner shop and woodshed, then a vehicle mechanics with the mechanic’s pit still covered over before it was donated to the Council for use in the creative space.”

Tegan and former president Sally Gill say the upgrade will make the clubrooms more comfortable, accessible, and available for the community to show their pottery talents.

The plans are already drawn up, donated by Mark Hawkins Architecture, and would turn the 77m3 premises into 144m3 with an additional kiln, pottery wheels and space to expand.

“We’re having to open most days to fit in the demand for use of wheels and kilns for members ... you’re almost working on top of one another”, suggests Tegan.

“There are shelves everywhere for people’s pieces, we’ve got a bathroom/library in the back, and we’re using the same one sink for clean ups.

“Whether people put their hands up to help with demolition, rebuild, pottery appliances, air conditioners, down to sponsoring the literal kitchen sink, any contribution big or small is really appreciated”, adds Sally. “There’s not been much done to it since we moved in here in 1977 ... it’s a big job but we’re trying.”

Contact marlboroughpotters.org/