FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I donate to FOSTER A POTTER?
Making a donation is easy 😀
You can make a ONE-TIME, MONTHLY or YEARLY donation.
You can choose the amount you’d like to give.
You can cancel anytime.
Read the T&Cs HERE.
DONATE HERE.

When do applications open for 2026 placements?
Applications open on 1 June 2025.

When do applications close for 2026 placements?
Applications close on 31 August 2025, 11.59pm AEST.

When will the 2026 placements be announced?
Successful applicants will be notified late October 2025.

What are the TERMS & CONDITIONS for FOSTER A POTTER applications?
Click HERE to download the 2026 TERMS & CONDITIONS.

How can I access the Application Form for 2026 placements?
Click HERE to access the 2026 Application Form.

Who can apply?
The applicants must both be Australian citizens or have permanent resident status.

Can a placement be for 3 months or 6 months, instead of 12 months?
Yes, we encourage you to work out the best length of time for you. It can be for any period up to 12 months.

Can I apply for less than $10,000?
Yes, we encourage you to work out the appropriate amount of funding that you need, eg. you might ask for $4000 for a 3-month placement.

Can I apply for a placement with 2 or 3 mentors split over 12 months?
For the 2026 round, we will accept applications from 1 student and 1 mentor potter. We may be able to introduce more flexibility in future rounds.

What if the Student and the Mentor Potter live a long way apart?
Funding can be used for expenses that facilitate the placement to occur, eg. travel, accommodation.

Can the placement take place remotely, ie. can the Student and the Mentor Potter meet only by Zoom or phone?
At the core of FOSTER A POTTER’s goals is that the Student will learn and work alongside the Mentor Potter in a studio setting. The intention is that placements are workshop-based, hands-on learning experiences. It may be that some discussions take place remotely (eg. on Zoom), but the priority is for the Student and the Mentor Potter to be working together in one studio space.

Does the student have to have a tertiary ceramics qualification?
Educational qualifications are desired but not essential. It is important that a reasonable knowledge and experience of working with clay is required so that the student can make a positive contribution to the Mentor Potter.

How can students find mentor potters?
We recommend that students gain familiarity with the ceramics community in Australia by whatever way suits them. It could be by visiting exhibitions in their state or territory, along with open studio events to meet their local artists and see work in person. A subscription to The Journal of Australian Ceramics or membership of The Australian Ceramics Association can also help to familiarise students with varied studio practices. Try following @australianceramics and #australianceramics on Instagram. You could send an online message to possible Mentor Potters to set up a Zoom or meet in person. We expect students will be pro-active and seek out opportunities themselves. Feel free to email us if you have a question.

Header image: L to R: Vicki Grima, Steve Williams, Steve Sheridan, Megan Patey, Sandy Lockwood, Marion Howell, Susie McIntosh and Jean McMaster at Denbigh’s Foster A Potter Launch on 4 May 2024.