Throw Clay LA is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The studio is closed on New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and closes early on the day before Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

Can I bring my dog or pet to the studio?

Because studio work is fragile and moved frequently, pets are not allowed in the studio. Exceptions may be made for trained service animals with prior approval.

Where can I find pottery classes for beginners in Los Angeles?

Throw Clay LA offers pottery classes for beginners in a welcoming downtown Los Angeles studio. Our one-time and six-week courses introduce the basics of wheel throwing and handbuilding with step-by-step instruction from experienced teachers. Students learn how to center clay, create simple forms, and glaze their finished pieces using our cone 5/6 clay bodies. Classes are small, hands-on, and perfect for anyone curious to explore clay for the first time.

What makes Throw Clay LA the best pottery date night in Los Angeles?

Throw Clay LA offers one of Los Angeles’s most creative and relaxed date nights. Couples share creativity in a fun, informal studio setting while learning the basics of pottery together. Each person has their own wheel and creates their own piece, guided by friendly instructors. It’s a memorable, hands-on experience that blends laughter, art, and connection.

Do you offer one-time pottery classes for beginners?

Yes. Our one-time pottery classes are designed for beginners and anyone curious to try working with clay. In a single 1 hour and 45 minute session, you’ll learn the basics of throwing on the wheel, choose your glaze colors, and we’ll finish and fire your pieces for you. It’s a fun, no-pressure introduction to pottery in a welcoming studio environment.

Do you offer kids' classes?

Our classes and courses are designed for adults 18 and older. Teens ages 13–17 may join a One-Time class if accompanied by an adult booked in the same class.

What is the difference between throwing on the wheel and handbuilding?

Wheel throwing uses gravity and centrifugal force to shape clay on the potter's wheel, typically resulting in symmetrical forms like bowls. Handbuilding uses pinch, slab, and coil techniques to build pieces by hand, offering more flexibility and sculptural freedom.

When will my pottery pieces be ready for pickup after a class?

It takes 3–5 weeks to complete pieces made in class. Once they are ready, Throw Clay LA notifies you by email. Please pick them up promptly after notification to allow space for new work.

How long is a class or course?

One-Time Potter’s Wheel classes are 1 hour and 45 minutes. Six-week courses and One-Time Wheel & Handbuilding classes are two hours. Six-week courses are limited to 8 students for personalized instruction.

What should I wear to class?

Wear comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting clay on. Most clay washes out easily. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Long hair should be tied back, and jewelry removed for safety.

What is your cancellation policy?

One-Time Classes may be canceled or changed with at least 3 days’ notice. Six-Week Courses can be canceled up to 5 days before the start of the session for a refund (less transaction fees). Private Events require 10 days’ notice for a full refund or reschedule. Cancellations made closer to the event may be partially refunded or ineligible depending on timing.

Are my pottery pieces food, microwave, and dishwasher safe?

Yes. All pieces made and fired at Throw Clay LA are food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.

How much do members pay for firing?

For one-time classes and six-week courses, firing and glaze fees are included. For members, glaze firings are $1 per pound for pieces up to 14 inches, and $2 per pound for larger pieces. Bisque firing is free.

Can I bring my dog or pet to the studio?

Because studio work is fragile and moved frequently, pets are not allowed in the studio. Exceptions may be made for trained service animals with prior approval.

Pottery Team Building in Los Angeles: A Creative Group Experience

Throw Clay LA

Jul 4, 2024

3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

A team sitting in the wheel classroom as they learn to throw on the wheel. — A pottery team building event at Throw Clay LA gives groups a hands-on way to collaborate, solve problems and create together in Downtown Los Angeles.

Pottery team building gives groups a chance to step away from their usual work environment and do something completely different together. Instead of another meeting, meal or happy hour, everyone works with clay, learns a new skill and shares an experience where no one is expected to be an expert.

At Throw Clay LA, we host private pottery events for teams and groups at our studio in Downtown Los Angeles. Depending on the size of the group, events may include wheel throwing, handbuilding, or a combination of the two.

Boost Morale and Motivation

There’s something rewarding about creating something from clay. Team members step away from their usual roles, learn something new together and have the satisfaction of making an object with their own hands.

A pottery event also gives colleagues time together without the usual workplace agenda. The atmosphere is relaxed, everyone starts with the same unfamiliar material, and there is plenty of room for conversation, laughter and encouragement along the way.

Improve Communication and Collaboration

Team members decorating handbuilt pottery during a creative team building workshop at Throw Clay LA.
Corporate team building group learning the potter’s wheel together at Throw Clay LA in downtown Los

Pottery naturally encourages conversation and collaboration. As participants learn new techniques and work through creative challenges, they share ideas, offer encouragement, and help each other solve problems.

Working together in an unfamiliar creative setting can also shift established workplace dynamics. Colleagues communicate in different ways, see one another approach problems differently, and work toward solutions together. Those interactions can strengthen relationships, improve communication, and contribute to a more collaborative team back in the workplace.

Encourage Creativity and Problem Solving

Working with clay invites experimentation. Participants must adapt as the material responds to their touch, learning to adjust their approach and think creatively as they build their pieces.

Working through small challenges while building a piece exercises problem-solving and flexible thinking. Participants experiment, assess what happened, make adjustments and try again, using the same kinds of adaptive thinking that are valuable in the workplace.

Build Trust and Stronger Relationships

Creative experiences allow colleagues to see one another in a different light. Outside of daily responsibilities, people often discover new strengths and perspectives within their team.

Working side by side on a shared creative activity builds trust, strengthens mutual respect and reinforces a sense of teamwork. Seeing colleagues learn, experiment and solve problems together can create stronger working relationships that continue back in the work environment.

A Meaningful Investment in Your Team

Organizations that invest in creative team building often see lasting benefits. Activities like pottery team building workshops can improve morale, encourage collaboration, and provide a refreshing break from routine work.

The value of the experience can extend beyond the event itself. Stronger relationships, better communication, creative problem-solving and greater trust can all contribute to how effectively a team works together.

Pottery Team Building at Throw Clay LA

At Throw Clay LA, we host private pottery events designed specifically for team building, corporate gatherings and group celebrations in Downtown Los Angeles. Depending on the size of the group, events may include wheel throwing, handbuilding, or a combination of the two.

Our instructors guide participants through beginner-friendly pottery techniques, so no previous experience is necessary. Everyone works with clay, learns the process and creates pottery while sharing the experience with the rest of the group.

Private events can accommodate small teams as well as larger groups, making pottery an option for organizations looking for a hands-on team-building activity in Los Angeles.

Plan Your Team Building Event

If you're looking for a creative and engaging team building activity in Los Angeles, a pottery event gives your group an opportunity to learn something new, work together, and share an experience outside the usual workplace setting.

At Throw Clay LA, we host private events for:

Corporate team building
Company celebrations and retreats
Client appreciation events
Group gatherings and creative outings

Our Downtown Los Angeles studio can accommodate groups for wheel throwing, handbuilding, or a combination of the two, depending on group size. No previous pottery

experience is necessary.

About Throw Clay LA

Whether you’re curious to try pottery for the first time or ready to develop your skills, Throw Clay LA offers one-time pottery experiences, six-week Build Skills courses, and six-week Refine & Explore courses in wheel throwing and handbuilding at our studio in Downtown Los Angeles.

We also offer pottery workshops and private pottery events for groups, while studio memberships provide experienced potters with dedicated space and time to pursue their own work, along with access to studio equipment, glazes, firing services and free weekly Member Clinics.

GIFT CARDS

CLASSES

MEMBERSHIPS

EVENTS

WORKSHOPS