Membership

We're doing things a little bit different here.

Hence the name.

We created a space where you don't need to invest in your own personal collection of glazes, underglazes, and tools, unless you really want to. We want your membership and your clay to be your only expenses. No firing fees. No glaze fees. Just membership and clay.

We've built a unique, quirky and, in our opinion, beautiful space. We cater to both wheel throwers and handbuilders with brand new Shimpo Whisper wheels, custom built sit-stand work benches, and a glaze bar with dippable glazes as well as over 100 brushable glazes and underglazes in glass jars with QR codes.

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Rows of hexagonal glaze test tiles on wooden shelves, each showing a different glaze over a bare clay base

A member shelf in afternoon light holding bisque cats, gnomes, and stacked bowls beside a chalkboard tag reading MIMI

Our ethos

We prioritize kindness, cleanliness, and creative community.

We welcome anyone who lives these values to come explore NAPS. We want this to be a space that you adore coming to. Where you feel welcomed. Where you have a fun and supportive community.

As the name suggests, we're not just another pottery studio. We are dedicated to providing the local NELA community with free and low cost arts events, including and beyond pottery, so that everyone has the opportunity to be part of our space and discover their inner artist while connecting with others.

Through various initiatives and collaborations, we aim to make a positive impact beyond our studio walls. Whether through charitable events, workshops for local schools, or partnerships with community organizations, we strive to share the joy of pottery while supporting meaningful causes.

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“Being creative is not a hobby. It's a way of life.”

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The glaze wall: rows of hexagonal test tiles labelled by clay body and glaze, above matching labelled glaze buckets

Zero tolerance policy

(we really mean it)

Rudeness and meanness, including bigotry of any kind
Theft or deliberate damage of studio tools, equipment, supplies, or another member or student's belongings and work
Providing unsolicited critique of other people's work
Repeated failure to clean up after yourself. We understand a memory lapse here or there, but the studio should always be left as clean as you found it, if not cleaner.

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Shimpo wheels arranged around a shared wooden bench with stools, buckets, and towels ready for a session

Membership benefit

Member access to the studio

Tuesday to Friday: 7:00am – 9:30pm
Saturday & Sunday: 7:00am – 7:00pm
Monday: Closed

We're committed to a clean and organized studio, so Mondays are reserved for deep cleaning, staff training, and studio organization.

Hours may change from time to time to accommodate holidays or events.

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Two Shimpo Whisper wheels with splash pans, sponges, and water buckets, a blue stool pulled up to one

Membership benefit

Space & equipment

Your own space

A dedicated member shelf for work in progress
Additional shelving for clay storage, so your own shelf stays free for your work

Wheels & work surfaces

17 Shimpo Whisper wheels, set at different heights to suit different bodies, including one full standing wheel
Up to 12 wheels may be in use during class time
Custom built handbuilding tables and wedging tables
North Star slab roller

Glazes & finishes

Over 100 studio glazes and counting
Underglaze transfers, wax resist, and latex
Every jar labelled with a QR code, so you are not hunting through your phone with clay on your hands

Every tool you need

Basic essentials through to ribs, bats, and loop tools in every size
Calipers, cookie cutters, ribbons, handle molds, and handheld extruders
Chucks, Giffin grips, base setters, and brushes

Brushable glazes: ~70Brushable glazes
Underglazes: ~20Underglazes
Dippable glazes: ~10Dippable glazes
Low fire glazes: ~20Low fire glazes

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The NAPS studio in afternoon sunlight, arch mirrors along the white brick wall with wheels and stools

Membership benefit

Firing, glazes, sales, and more

Complimentary firing. Note: we are unable to support production potters at this time.
Free firing and glaze note tracking, so you never have to wonder what that killer combination was
Free member programming and events
Studio sales
Discounts on classes and public events

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Studio clay

Current clay bodies

Studio clay is available to purchase whenever you need it. We do not allow outside clay, which keeps our firings predictable and our kilns healthy. We're always exploring new clay bodies and adding to this list as demand changes, so check back.