Events, exhibitions and workshops

Upcoming events, including social and club activities, are listed here and on our events calendar. If you are a member you need to be logged in to your HelloClub account to see the members only events on the calendar.

Our Annual Exhibition is supported by the Canterbury Museum and is one of the highlights of our year. We host nationally acclaimed guest selectors/ exhibitors to exhibit work alongside members of our association.

• Open to current members only, this is a great time for students to consider becoming members, so they can submit their work. 
• There are a number of awards made each year, which carry a financial prize – including one for first time exhibitors.
• Our guest selector/exhibitor will usually hold a weekend workshop after selection.

VIEW PAST exhibitionS

UPCOMING EVENTS and WORKSHOPS

Canterbury Potters’ Association 53rd Annual Exhibition

The Canterbury Pottery Association annual exhibition is the big event of the year. Here our members can have their work displayed at CoCA for the public to admire and buy. In addition, CPA is honoured to present awards for several categories on opening night. 

Eligibility: Only financial members for the 2026-27 year may enter. All selected exhibitors must be available for two rostered duties at the venue.
Hosted at: Canterbury Museum at Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA), 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch
Important Dates: 

• Receiving day is Thursday 8th October 2026 at Canterbury Potters, 395 Memorial Avenue, between 11--1 pm and

6-8 pm.

• Selection day by our guest selector is Friday 9 October
• Unselected work available at CPA from Monday 12 October​
• Exhibition opening by invitation at Museum at 6 pm Wednesday 11th November
• Exhibition closes 4.00 pm Sunday 22nd November. 
• Entrants can collect unsold work from 4.00-5pm Sunday 22nd November and 9-10.30am from the Museum Monday 23rd November. 
• Remaining pots can be picked up from CPA clubrooms during class times

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Talk - Kate Fizharris

October 9th at 7pm
At CPA clubrooms 395 Memorial Ave

Come learn about Kate's approach to ceramics and some of her previous work. Materials and how to choose them, ideas & inspiration and bringing these into reality.

Artist talk tickets on Helloclub $10

Sign Up Now!

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Workshop - Handbuilding with Kate Fitzharris

Kate Fitzharris is well known for her characteristic style of human forms arising from coiled clay bodies. In this handbuilding workshop both material and storytelling are combined.

Participants will create a mid-sized vessel, learn coiling and shaping techniques, alongside a discussion about clay materials and thoughts building stories behind the forms. 

​2 day workshop tickets are $160 are available on Helloclub
​​Saturday October 10th 10am-4pm
​Sunday October 11th 10am-1pm

Booking Link

​Please bring handbuilding tools including ribs, tools for hole-making, carving and coiling. If you have one, please bring your banding wheel and wooden bats. You will need 5kg-10kg of clay for sculpting such as Macs Buff Speckled. And shared food for a pot-luck lunch.

Kate Fitzharris has been invited to be our 2026 Exhibition guest selector. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Dunedin School of Art and lives by a tidal estuary near Otepoti Dunedin. She is interested in the history of ceramics and the relationships we have developed with these materials across time.
​Her work is currently on show in 'Screech! A little history of loud ceramics' at Te Manawa and Te Ahikaroa: artists and stories of Dunedin Public Art Gallery. She has completed several residencies, including the Doris Lusk Ceramic Residency, the Tylee Cottage Residency, Driving Creek and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park Residency, Japan.

Recent Events

Workshop "Travelling Cups" with Gregory Hamilton Miller
A great two day workshop on Japanese throwing, handbuilding and decoration

Talk by Gregory Hamilton Miller "Travelling Cups"
Many thanks for a fascinating talk featuring his collection of sake and tea vessels for a talk about his travels round the world, and his business taking ceramics tours of Japan and - maybe - his plans for starting these in New Zealand.

For more information about Greg and his work:
https://www.oldhornestation.com/
For information about the tours:
https://ceramicadventures.com/

Soup Bowl Swap
We held our annual and much loved Bowl Swap on ​Wednesday 19th August along with a silent auction. 

AGM
The Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 26th July at 12pm midday in the CPA Clubrooms at 395 Memorial Avenue, Burnside.

Matariki Raku firing - 10th July.

​Handbuilt Teapot with Rick Rudd Workshop - 4th&5th July
This two-day workshop involved learning the process involved in making a hand-built teapot using pinching and coiling techniques.

Talk by ​Rick Rudd of the Quartz Museum
​Thank you to Rick Rudd for his talk about his life in ceramics and the incredible asset that is the Quartz Museum in Whanganui.

Presentation by Richard Bullen on the work of Shoji Hamada - 12th June
Associate Professor of Japanese art history at the University of Canterbury, Richard Bullen spoke about the traditional tea ceremony and the ceramics made by Shoji Hamada in Otautahi Christchurch.

 Flow in Blue - 16th and 17th May
Flow in Blue was a two day Blue & White porcelain painting workshop that introduced participants to the serene rhythm of Blue & White decoration rooted in Chinese ceramic tradition. 

Four techniques One weekend - 11th & 12th April
Another successful four techniques weekend. Great turnout from our members who had a go, learned lots and showed why four techniques is an important part of CPAs calendar. 
​Many thanks to all our tutors: Nicole Wu, Jane McCulla, Penny de Jong and Alex Prentice.

WINNERS 2025 EXHIBITION

People's Choice Award:
Congratulations to Hugh Rickard who won People’s Choice Award for his framed tile ‘Curiosity’.

Thank you to everyone who voted and Chanui tea for their sponsorship. 

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Avice Hill Memorial Award:
Goes to first time exhibitor Julia Viljoen for her body of work - ‘Home from home’ and ‘Ewe three group’.

Award sponsored by CPA.

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Premier Award:
Awarded to Carmel Pollock for ‘Sōsho’ a beautiful, fascinating and technically demanding work! 

Many thanks to Stephen from @nelsonpotterysupplies for sponsoring this award.

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Wheelthrowing Award:
Won by Sarah Geary for her piece 'Earth pot'.

Award sponsored by Decopot.

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Gallery