The split session is the studio's most inclusive way to turn clay into one of your most creative team building activities in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Your group divides in two for this two-hour class: one group works on the pottery wheels while the other hand-builds, and the studio glazes and fires everyone's pieces afterward.
The split session welcomes groups of 4 to 60 guests, the largest capacity of the studio's group options. Like every class here, it is designed for beginners who have never touched clay before, with room for experienced guests to try more intricate techniques.
What's Included
- A two-hour private class with the group split between the pottery wheels and hand-building
- Instruction from the
The split session is the studio's most inclusive way to turn clay into one of your most creative team building activities in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Your group divides in two for this two-hour class: one group works on the pottery wheels while the other hand-builds, and the studio glazes and fires everyone's pieces afterward.
The split session welcomes groups of 4 to 60 guests, the largest capacity of the studio's group options. Like every class here, it is designed for beginners who have never touched clay before, with room for experienced guests to try more intricate techniques.
What's Included
- A two-hour private class with the group split between the pottery wheels and hand-building
- Instruction from the studio's ceramic artists for both groups
- Clay, tools, aprons and use of the pottery wheels
- About one to three pieces made by each guest
- A choice of five glazes for every piece
- Glazing and firing by the studio, with an email when pieces are ready for pickup
How the Split Works
The studio calls this its most inclusive and popular option, because some people are not able to get on the wheel. Guests who want the challenge and excitement of wheel throwing head to the wheels, while everyone else settles in at the hand-building tables with simple tools and techniques. Both groups work at the same time, so nobody sits out and the whole team shares the same afternoon.
Why It Works for Groups
Big teams rarely agree on one activity, and the split format solves that: the adventurous get the wheel, and the social crowd gets the calmer, chattier hand-building table. The result is one of the more interactive team building activities for adults for mixed groups, with plenty to compare when the two halves come back together.
Room for up to 60 guests makes it one of the most flexible large group team building activities in the city and an easy pick for corporate team bonding activities, department celebrations and year-end gatherings. Because the finished ceramics arrive a few weeks later, it also works well among holiday team building activities, giving everyone a handmade piece to look forward to.
After the Class
Guests make about one to three pieces during the class. Everyone chooses from five different glazes for each piece, and the studio then glazes the creations and fires them. Finishing takes four to six weeks, and the studio sends an email with pickup information when the pieces are ready to take home.
How to Prepare
- Arrive at least 5 minutes before class starts
- Aprons are provided, but wear comfortable clothing and footwear you do not mind getting clay on; clay washes right off in the washing machine
- Short nails make the techniques easier
- If you have long hair, bring a hair tie
- Remove rings, bracelets and watches before you start and keep them in your bag, not in an apron pocket
- Come with low expectations and for the fun experience first; pottery takes a lot of practice
About the Studio
The host is an artist-owned, women-owned community clay studio in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, with a 4.7-star rating from 54 reviews. It is run by a collective of artists bound by their knowledge and passion for ceramics, with years of practice and higher education in the craft, who want to share those skills and foster creativity in a safe space through clay, art and dialogue. Beyond group events, the studio offers six-week wheel and hand-building classes, memberships and specialty workshops, and it treats clay as a valuable, finite resource from the earth.
Good to Know
- Group events need a minimum of 4 participants
- One-time classes suit ages 15 and up; ages 12 to 14 join with a supervising adult
- Classes are designed for beginners who have never touched clay, and instructors can guide experienced guests toward more intricate techniques
- To request a date, share your company or occasion, headcount, class option and a few possible dates with start times
Plan Your Split Session
Send your preferred dates, start times and headcount to check availability. For team building events where every guest should find their own way into clay, the split session is the studio's go-to format.
