Pottery Lab

Our state-of-the-art pottery lab features kick wheels, electric wheels, a treadle wheel, a slab roller, electric kilns, gas kilns, wood kilns, and a Raku kiln.

Pottery Class Information + Register

Pottery Lab Operations and Management Update

A Pottery Lab Working Group (PLWG), comprised of 12 members (community, staff and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB), was established in February 2012 to make consensus recommendations to the city on ways to ensure the sustainability of the pottery program. The working group recommended that the city explore a nonprofit or public-private partnership.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the management and operations of the Pottery Lab was issued in July 2013.  One responsive proposal was submitted by Studio Arts Boulder (SAB). The city reviewed and accepted the proposal and began contract negotiations in January 2014.

Pottery Program Management Assessment

Pottery Lab public-private partnership formed

The Parks and Recreation Department has entered into an agreement with Studio Arts Boulder (SAB) to manage and operate the Pottery Lab, located at 1010 Aurora Avenue. Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, this partnership will facilitate the delivery of high-quality programs with community partners to improve the provision of customer services to the Boulder community.

For more information on the process leading up to the RFP, please see Pottery Lab Public Input link at right.

Pottery Lab History

The Pottery Lab moved into the former Boulder Fire Department Station No. 2 in 1963. The building was known as the Mt. St. Gertrude Fire Station for its proximity to the school established for children with tuberculosis. It was built in 1908 at the insistence of volunteer Fire Chief, George Fonda.