(A message to the reader.)
As Barrie-Anne Morgan argues, local government support was critical to the longevity of this legendary potters’ club.
Our club, the South of the River Potters’ Club, is about to turn 50.
The newly built Karlup Ceramic Studio, situated in Alfred Cove, WA is home to the 120 members of the club, with a long waiting list once again and many hundreds of students learning the craft every term.
The studio is just two years old and includes all of the necessary practical elements plus a full library and meeting room. Located on the banks of the Swan River, it was funded by our local government and designed as a purpose-built ceramics facility in collaboration with the potters who now occupy it.
But it was not always like this.
In 1974, the club operated happily from a small house in East Fremantle. Unfortunately, due to road planning changes the club had to leave this home and eventually relocated to Atwell House Arts precinct, just ten minutes away. Atwell House was a volunteer-run community arts hub where many small art groups met.
Numbers dwindled over the years as the facilities did not meet community expectations, particularly for the unique needs of pottery making. The club erected small sheds for kilns and a rudimentary workshop to help the club survive.
The club journey made us all realise two important facts which we believe affect all community art groups survival. Firstly, and fundamentally, an appropriate creative space is the physical element that needs to be a constant to attract and improve membership. Secondly, the leadership and support of volunteers need to be consistently strong to ensure the longevity of the club.
For the club to regain the strength of its early days a decision was made five years ago. Fit-for-purpose facilities were needed. The club committee advocated for 18 months to all three levels of government regarding the value of community arts and the value of our club. Eventually, our potential benefits to the community were recognised and understood.
Ten years ago, most of our new members joined the club because they needed access to kiln firing or a studio workshop. Times have changed. New members now explain, that even though they may have their own studio, they want to be around other Potters and feel the pull to collaborate creatively at some level, rather than solo.
The South of the River Potters’ Club provides members independent access to the Karlup Ceramics Studio by using their own security code at any time. Despite this option, many members are part of the WhatsApp club group that arranges workshop meet-ups when others are around. The Friendship Group for members meet regularly once a week and are always busy with a mix of work and social activity in the Studio.
Many of our members take on a volunteer support role within the club. Though this can be a commitment that scares some, the value of sharing the load is not only vital to the survival of community art clubs but also is a positive source of club spirit.
So many members have talents and experience that can be of enormous value to the club. Quite often members are retired from careers where their experience and knowledge lie dormant. A membership to a club like ours can also provide an opportunity to feel valued again in a less corporate and more creative and relaxed setting.
While our community learning program is diverse and interesting, the club takes great pride in offering curated clay art therapy experiences. Sometimes this is via a term program run by a sculptor tutor with counselling experience or a mentor program offering at risk teenagers the chance to explore clay with a potter tutor with a degree in Psychology now studying Art Therapy. We believe that art communities such as ours have a significant role to play in reducing social isolation and supporting good mental health.
Recently the club has developed a program for members’ workshops which has been consistently sold out. This reiterates our belief that craftspeople often prefer to come together to create, learn and share their creative experiences. One of the most popular activities each year is Pit and Raku firing which links the potter back to the primitive firing techniques of this ancient craft. The thrill of the flames and unexpected results is always a crowd-pleaser for those watching on from the broader community.
Our club’s journey demonstrates that for community arts groups to survive and thrive, they need a fit-for-purpose space to operate. Our club therefore continue to actively advocate to the government for funding to support infrastructure projects for community arts facilities. We share our frustration loudly and often, that an infrastructure fund exists to service community sports projects but not community arts facilities.
A good Club problem is membership demand. We regularly review the challenge of how we fairly share the volunteer load and limit volunteer fatigue. Acting as a strong supporter to the club, our local government, the City of Melville, provide event and marketing support as required
Our hopes for our club in the future focus on continuing the enthusiasm for volunteers to want to be part of the team needed for the club to continue operating happily and effectively. Our experience is that behind every successful creative space that supports a group of creative craftspeople, there exists a vital team of volunteers and supporters.
The South of the River Potters’ Club recognises that the current membership would not be enjoying all the benefits of the Club today if it were not for all the hard-working committee members and volunteers’ contributions over the past 50 years. We are grateful and look forward to celebrating the club’s 50-year milestone in 2025 with events and collaborations throughout the year.
SORPC is an incorporated association, operating as a not-for-profit group. We lease (peppercorn) our Karlup Ceramic Studio from the City of Melville. We manage the facility independently, though have a strong, positive relationship with the Community Arts Sector at the Council. We operate with an executive committee of 6 and a general committee of around 12. Each committee member has a documented job description. The make-up of the committee varies during the year, as members step up to create and bolster sub-committees for specific events and circumstances as they arise. We employ a kiln technician and Tutors, otherwise, everyone else are volunteers. Most tutors are also members. The committee members are elected at the annual AGM. We have a constitution, club rules and a members’ code of conduct.
Youth Mentorship at South of the River Potters Club
Hello, my name is Candice. I’m currently studying for my Master’s in Art Therapy and partaking in a youth mentorship program called LYF (Leading Youth Forward). LYF is a program that aims to enhance the lives of at-risk young people in Perth during their formative teenage years, by offering vulnerable young people a long-term one-on-one mentorship and large group activities program.
The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. This stable relationship acts as a buffer against developmental disruptions and enhances adaptive capacities.
South of the River Potters Club has allowed me the space to teach pottery to my teen and her peers who otherwise would not have this opportunity to learn. The process of art-making is not only fun but facilitates the learning of life skills such as self-sufficiency, community-mindedness, and self-expression.
About Barrie-Anne Morgan
I live in East Fremantle about 5 minutes from our Karlup Ceramic Studio in Alfred Cove. My background is in furniture and interior design. I am currently doing hand-building classes at the Studio and part of the team organising next year’s events for the 50th anniversary of the Club. My biggest ongoing challenge is continuing to advocate for government funding to provide for community art infrastructure projects! Visit sorpottersclub.com/classes
