We have hit our maximum capacity for membership for ‘23/’24 and have paused inductions until early September 2024. Once intakes have restarted for ‘24/’25, it could be another six to nine months to be invited to an induction session.

In the meantime, we will continue to use the waitlist for building priority.

Yes, you need to have a basic level of experience, and need to be at least 16 years old.

The WPA expects applicants to have the basic technical skills to undertake, without assistance and safely, the type of work they want to produce. It is expected that new members will need some help with locating things, but they should not depend on other members for unreasonable help with using equipment and technique. Applicants without prior experience are recommended to attend one or more of the beginner courses run by other organisations (see following section).

Beginners classes with WPA tutors are offered through Wellington High School Community Education Centre, which are open to WPA members as well as non-members.

The following organisations offer courses that are available to the public. The Wellington Potters’ Association has no association with these organisations and does not in any way endorse them.

• The Learning Connexion

• Vincents Art Workshop

• Hutt Art Society

• Otaki Pottery Club

• Wundaire

• Karla Marie Ceramics

• Inverlochy Art School

You can join WPA as an Associate or a Full member:

• Associate members usually have their own studios and kilns as they DO NOT have access to our rooms, kilns or glazes. This membership does however allow you to submit your work to our annual Ceramicus exhibition, participate in any anagama firings, and use our library. You are also eligible to join our WPA courses and workshops if places are unfilled by club members. The fee is $80 per year.

• Full membership gives you 24/7 access to our rooms and equipment including club glazes, kiln firings and special events, in addition to the Associate member privileges. This is our most popular membership type and costs $240 per year.

Before you are accepted, you need to attend an induction session where our tutors will share our history, culture and expectations of members, and demonstrate our processes and procedures. It may take a couple of months to work your way to the top of the list however we will send you an invitation to ticket sales for an induction session as soon as one becomes available ($100 per induction for Full members, free for Associate members).

Full membership (our most popular membership type) costs $240 per year. Associate memberships cost $80 per year. See above for details on each membership type.

If our fees are prohibitive, please refer to our Assisted Membership Policy to check if you qualify for a reduced rate and find out what the process is to apply.

Memberships are for a full year only, from October 1 - September 30. When you join you will pay a pro-rated amount for the remainder of your first membership year, but the next year will be the full amount. We do not do partial-year memberships.

WPA is run by volunteers. As such, we expect all members to contribute towards its running. Full members are expected to help out at regular cleaning or maintenance bees but a range of other volunteer activities need to be completed, both formal and informal.

The best way you can help out is by always cleaning or tidying something extra when you are using the rooms – cleaning left over dirty batts, wiping down the lunch table, oven or microwave, tidying the front desk, or hanging out or bringing in any washing.

Sadly, no. Only members of the Wellington Potters' Association are allowed to fire their own work in the WPA kilns. Post on New Zealand Pottery Studio - Technical’s Facebook page and you may be able to find someone willing to fire your work privately.