5 - 15 NOVEMBER
2026
Functional Pottery - clay for everyday use
with MAnne Mette Hjortshøj
A hands-on workshop exploring clay, design, and wood firing
Functional Pottery - clay for everyday use is an immersive course that invites participants to explore the art of making pots for the kitchen and take part in a wood firing at Sasukenei smokeless kiln, in Cerdeira.
Led by Anne Mette Hjortshøj, the course is rooted in the artist’s extensive experience with clays that she digs locally, which has shaped her practice into a balance between making functional pots and using clays that have natural limits on how they can be used, glazed, and fired. Anne-Mette will share her knowledge and long-standing ceramics practice with the materials available at Cerdeira’s studio, specially prepared for the high-temperature wood firing.
Over 10 days, you’ll learn through different methods, including demonstrations, hands-on making, and open discussions about functional design, aesthetics, and material properties. Most of the time will be dedicated to making, with special attention to the details that define the quality of kitchen pots: spouts, handles, lids, rims, and other subtle elements that elevate and define a “good” mug, jug, or any functional vessel used in the kitchen. The purpose of a functional object and the word “beauty”, vast in meaning, are key themes in this workshop.
The course also includes a brief introduction to Danish ceramics and design, focusing on the island of Bornholm and its unique geology. Bornholm’s endless clay deposits have profoundly impacted Anne Mette’s work, as she uses these materials both as claybodies and wood-ash-based glazes. Under Anne’s guidance, participants will also experiment with one of the most basic glazes, a “milky” opaque white-ish glaze, made from wood ash: the nuka style glaze.
By the end of the course, the goal is that the participants will leave with a deeper understanding of functional design, the expressive potential of natural clays, and hands-on experience in creating pots that balance beauty, practicality, and material honesty - all within the slow rhythm of high-temperature woodfiring (1300ºC) and the inspiring landscape of Cerdeira.
Anne Mette Hjortshøj was born in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1973. She graduated from the Royal Academy, Ceramics Department, in 2000, and spent one and a half years as an apprentice with the renowned British potter Phil Rogers, before setting up her own studio on the Danish island Bornholm - a World Craft Region, and Anne Mette’s home.
In Cerdeira, Anne Mette will share with us her approach to pottery. In her own words:
“I work as a studio potter with solid roots in tradition. I feel a deep love and respect for the clay and rock I put my hands on and for the potters who used it before me. When I make better pots, as a consequence of technical information in a 100-year-old log book, about local clays and their abilities, I carry a hope as a potter that «keep trying to do better» is a way of keeping craftsmanship alive.”
Anne Mette’s passion for creating functional pots has also led her to collaborate with the world famous Michelin-starred restaurant NOMA in Copenhagen.
Find out more about Anne Mette Hjortshøj’s work.
COURSE details
SCHEDULE:
November 5th:
3:00 p.m.: Reception and check-in for participants
5:30 p.m.: Reception and presentation of the group at the studio
7:00 p.m.: Welcome dinner
November 6th to 15th:
Course from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.*, with a two-hour lunch break (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Free access to the studio daily from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
*The schedule is flexible on the days when the pieces are loaded and fired.
During firing in the Sasukenei - Smokeless Kiln, students will be divided into 4-hour shifts.
November 16th:
Until 11:00 a.m.: check-out from accommodation
Want to know more? Ask us for the full program at artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com ✨
CONDITIONS:
Deadline for enrollment: September 5th, 2026.
Special discount for newsletter subscribers available for early bird registrations by May 10, 2026
THE COURSE FEE INCLUDES:
Training 6 hours a day, speaking in English and Portuguese;
Lunch during the course;
Free accommodation at the hostel during the course (11 nights)*;
All the materials needed for the course;
Access to the studio from 6pm to 10pm;
Wood firing in Sasukenei, our smokeless kiln;
Welcome dinner on the first day of the course;
*The hostel is equipped with two dormitories (female/masculine), a kitchen, and two shared bathrooms. The booking includes towels and linen.
⚠️ IMPORTANT!
Safety during the wood-firing:
For safety reasons, please bring footwear that protects the toes, such as sneakers/shoes/boots. We also ask to avoid clothing with synthetic fibers, opting for natural fibers such as 100% cotton.
Leave extra space in your luggage!
We also recommend bringing extra space in your luggage to take your pieces home at the end of the course.
Shipping options available are not ideal or cost-effective for ceramics - personal transport is strongly recommended.
ACCOMMODATION UPGRADES AVAILABLE:
Upgrade to 11 nights in a standard schist house shared by 2 participants and breakfast at an additional cost of 880€/per participant. Includes shared room, equipped kitchen, towels, and bed linen.
Upgrade to 11 nights in a standard schist house for single occupancy by 1 participant and breakfast, with an additional cost of 1265€/per participant. Includes single room, equipped kitchen, towels, and bed linen.
Please note that all accommodation options have limited availability and will be booked according to the order of registration and payment. This rate is not cumulative with other discounts or promotions. For more information, contact artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com.
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
You may withdraw within 14 days of registration, paying the corresponding transfer fees. Following the EU consumer protection legislation, payments are not refunded past 14 days of registration. The payment will be fully reimbursed if the training cannot be held because of insufficient students.
Suppose the training is canceled by Cerdeira - Home For Creativity for reasons of significant force such as a pandemic, civil disorder, a natural catastrophe, medical or family issues of the teacher, and others beyond our control. In that case, Cerdeira will offer a voucher for a different workshop of your choice. The voucher is valid for two years.
PAYMENT INSTALLMENT OPTIONS
You can pay for the course in up to 5 monthly installments, depending on the course. Payments are automatically deducted from your chosen payment method starting from the date you submit your registration form. Please be aware that additional costs for this service apply, depending on the selected installment plan. At checkout, after selecting your preferred option, make sure to review the total amount to be paid before completing your registration. Please note that if installment payments are not fulfilled within the established timeframe, your registration will be canceled without a refund of the amounts already paid.
If you have any questions, contact us at artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com
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