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Mudding About

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Mudding about is an initiative to lower the barriers to access heritage crafts (such as ceramics) for young people in Norfolk. In partnership with Studio Do, we offer free pottery courses to young people aged 16-25 who are curious about clay and pottery, but haven’t had a chance to try it out before due to various barriers (financial, mental, physical, time, etc.).

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​The initiative aims to:

  • Empower participants by introducing them to new forms of creative communication

  • Foster participants' confidence in experimenting with 3D art and heritage crafts

  • Create a supportive environment to nurture well-being through creativity

  • Youth network: 

    • Facilitate an environment for participants to network with others who are mutually interested in clay, ceramics, sculpture, and other heritage crafts

    • Introduce young people to the local ceramics network, so they can make connections to help develop their creative practice or career 

  • Promote employability and professional development: 

    • Upskill participants in project development and creating a creative portfolio that can be used for career progression, such as job or grant applications​

    • Expose participants to potential career paths and opportunities in heritage crafts

    • Connect participants to Studio Do's technician work exchange scheme to continue their professional development after participating in Mudding About

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About the Course:
With two tutors for support (Ruby Cheng & Marion Stuart), you can try out a bit of everything:

  • pottery wheel

  • handbuilding and sculpting

  • decorating pottery and glazing

We aim to create a sensory-friendly and relaxing learning environment. Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided, and you are welcome to take breaks whenever needed. Our teaching approach will also be flexible and adaptive to accommodate your aims and needs.

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You can come in completely blank to trying something new; You can also bring in ideas, sketches, Pinterest boards and whatever floats your creative boat, and we’ll make a fun time out of it! We will also discuss how to build a project portfolio, if you want to use your creation to apply for future creative opportunities. 
 

1 & 2 rounds of Mudding About are now completed. Thank you to everyone who applied or participated; to Studio Do for their supportive partnership; and to the Norfolk and Norwich Festival Bursary Service for funding the first two rounds of the initiative. Please see below the participants' testimonies and impact report:

We are securing additional funding to continue Mudding About. To donate, support us, or register your interest for future courses, please email info.lowbae@gmail.com

Accessibility:

 

​Please see below for the accessibility details of the course and venue. We aim to be as accessible as we can be with limited funding. Please email info.lowbae@gmail.com if you wish to further discuss how we can support or accommodate you.

 

Activity/sensory: 

  • We aim to create a low-stimulus and relaxing learning environment: 

  • The sessions are 3 hours long; you are welcome to take breaks whenever needed.

  • After the demonstration, students will be spreadout across workrooms to reduce noise and crowdedness. 

  • You are more than welcome to wear headphones and listen to music, use fidget toys, bring or use any resources to help you engage with learning.

  • Refreshments like hot drinks and biscuits will be provided, with vegan and gluten-free options available. You are more than welcome to bring your own as well.

  • There will be a designated quiet space available. 

 

Physical access:

Please note that ceramics can be a physically demanding craft that requires some hand or arm mobility. Carers, assistants, interpreters, and support persons are welcome. Please mention this in your application so we can prepare enough refreshments and resources for all.

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The venue is accessible to some ambulatory wheelchair users, and not yet fully wheelchair accessible:​

  • Step-free access –  Workroom 1&2, kitchenette, and bathroom have step-free access. There is one step to access the member’s room and the kiln room.

  • Doorway width – Wheelchair-ramp entrance is 150cm/60 inches wide. Other available doorways and entrances are 73cm/29 inches wide.

  • Workroom 1 & 2 – This is where the workshop activity will take place. Workroom 1 is manual-wheelchair accessible via a ramp, with assistance over a small threshold. Certain tools and equipment are stored on higher shelves or less accessible locations, but these will be brought out by staff if students require them.

  • Bathroom - The gender-neutral bathroom has a grab bar next to the toilet. Lightpull and sink are accessible at sitting height. The bathroom space is narrow, therefore not yet wheelchair accessible. The closest wheelchair friendly bathroom is 2 minutes walking distance from the studio, at the Cafe Nero on Unthank Road <https://share.google/JX8St9Nww5yTTfqJe>

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Travel: 

  • Studio Do is accessible by both private and public transport (e.g. Bus 25 to Somerleyton Street). Parking spaces are available in the yard in front of the studio, right hand side of the main entrance. 

  • Travel Bursary: If the cost of getting to and from Studio Do is a barrier for you to attend, we can provide a travel bursary on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee that we can cover all requests, and we will only cover the cost of the most affordable transport option available. You can opt in or out of the travel bursary in your application. You are required to submit all travel receipts to be reimbursed at the end of the course.

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Safeguarding:

The experienced educators (Ruby Cheng and Marion Stuart) are DBS checked, also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults who take part in Mudding About and Studio Do activities. Click here to read more about Studio Do's Safeguarding policy.

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