Advance your Practice in Ceramics with this Unique Raku Kiln Building Class in Kinsale

Dates 2026: August 22-23rd

Price: 2-day course including building and using your kiln: €280 plus kiln materials (approx €260)

Course description:

This is a weekend course at our beautiful Arts Centre in Kinsale that will guide you through building your very own Raku kiln. Materials for the kiln are approximately €260 (excluding the raku burner which you need not buy till after the course). You may either buy your own according to a shopping list, or arrange with Kinsale Pottery to buy them for you in the run-up to the course.

Do you have access to an electric kiln for biscuit firing, or perhaps you have been attending classes and doing your glaze firing in electric or gas kilns? This course is designed to provide you with an inexpensive and effective raku kiln, made by your own fair hand, tested out during the course and light enough to fit in the boot of your car to take home.

The kiln will be made from:

• Wire mesh

• Set of 25-30 ceramic buttons supplied free from Kinsale Pottery

• Ceramic Fibre blanket

• 20ft of Nichrome Wire (this doesn't melt at high temperatures) -

• 1 x 14 inch kiln shelf and some 6 inch props

During the weekend, you will construct a kiln approximately 24 inches deep and 24 inches diameter (top loading), learn to make raku glazes, and test-fire your raku kiln with a selection of pre-made bisque pieces. The ceramic work can be provided by you if you want, otherwise the pottery will provide pieces to glaze test.