Apprenticeship Application

Apprenticeship at Mary Fox Pottery

This is a unique and exciting opportunity for young potters who wish to live the life of a studio potter. Modelled after traditional apprenticeships, the apprenticeship is designed to give potters the skills and knowledge required to operate a successful studio pottery. The two-year program is a full-time commitment.

In the first year, you will learn to produce the pottery’s functional tableware, thrown to my designs. This will include making the glazes, glazing all the tableware created and loading the kilns.

The majority of the tableware is fired to cone 10 in reduction, but you will also learn about cone 6 stoneware as well as earthenware fired to cone 04 in both reduction and oxidation.    

There is a lot that goes on here in the course of a day and you will be called upon for myriad studio jobs. We have customers and potters coming to visit the pottery from all over the world. They follow us on social media and are keen to meet the apprentices and watch their progress. Helping in the gallery is part of the job, as is producing the videos we post on social media.  The apprentice is also called upon for website work, helping with emails, and whatever else I may need help with. The days are varied and fly by, and before you know it, you will be starting into your second year.

During the first year, you will not be making your own pieces; your time will be fully taken up with learning.  But as the second year involves developing your own work, you will be encouraged during this initial period to get a jump start on your glaze explorations and will have access to a full pantry of glaze materials.

You will start your second year by presenting me with drawings of the body of work you would like to start developing. You will devote roughly one week each month to this; the rest of the month will be spent producing work for the pottery. As every situation is different, time off will be worked out individually with each apprentice. You can plan on three weeks of holiday time a year.

The Honorarium:

The first two months of the apprenticeship is a trial period to ensure that the position is a good fit for both of us. The honorarium is $2,000 a month, with the possibility of rent assistance if needed. If no rent assistance is required, the honorarium is $2,500.00. As this is a contract position, you will be required to file and pay your own taxes.

Responsibilities of the Apprentice at Mary Fox Pottery

Studio/work hours at Mary Fox Pottery are Tuesday – Saturday from 9am to 5pm for the first month;  after that, the hours are from 8am till 4pm. You will be expected to open the studio in the morning and then start work.  You will be working to my specifications and expected to keep a clean work station at all times as well as being prepared to deal with customers if I am busy.     

You will throw only what is requested, assist with all other studio jobs (e.g., making glazes, glazing tableware, loading and unloading the kiln), if asked. You are to keep notes on all jobs done in the course of a day with extra attention given to notes on how the work was glazed. This would include the specific gravity of the glaze, how many seconds it was dipped in the glaze, the firing program intended and the clay body used, including the temp it was bisqued to. After each firing you are to make notes on what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve for the next firing. Studio note books become the property of the Legacy Project Society, however you are welcome to make a copy or separate notes for yourself.

Mary Fox Pottery’s responsibilities:

Cover studio insurance costs for the visiting potter.
Teach or have a past apprentice teach throwing the tableware including glazing and firing of all work created.
Mentor and encourage the artistic growth of the apprentice.

Accommodation:

The Legacy Project is raising money to eventually purchase artist housing, but we aren’t there yet, so rental or other accommodation will be needed.