Keeping your pottery community engaged can be challenging, especially when members need fresh motivation. Community challenges are a proven way to spark creativity, get people sharing, and help everyone grow together. Use these templates to launch fun, achievable challenges that inspire both new and seasoned potters.
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Community challenges tap into our natural desire for connection and achievement. By presenting tasks that are fun and attainable, you encourage members to step out of their comfort zones and try new techniques, which builds confidence and excitement. The playful competition and shared progress create a sense of camaraderie that strengthens your community.
When members see others participating, posting photos, and receiving recognition, they are more likely to join in themselves. Challenges also provide structure and purpose, giving members a reason to return regularly and engage, which increases overall activity and loyalty.
This week, try making something with only your non-dominant hand. Share your results below.
💡 Example: "This week, try making something with only your non-dominant hand. Share your results below."
Can you create a mug with a unique handle shape? Post a photo of your most creative design.
💡 Example: "Can you create a mug with a unique handle shape? Post a photo of your most creative design."
Flash challenge: Make a miniature pot no bigger than a golf ball. Who is in?
💡 Example: "Flash challenge: Make a miniature pot no bigger than a golf ball. Who is in?"
Try a new glazing technique and share your before-and-after pictures.
💡 Example: "Try a new glazing technique and share your before-and-after pictures."
Who can make the tallest coil pot this month? Share your measurements and progress pics.
💡 Example: "Who can make the tallest coil pot this month? Share your measurements and progress pics."
Recreate your favorite childhood cup or bowl in clay. Post your inspiration and finished piece.
💡 Example: "Recreate your favorite childhood cup or bowl in clay. Post your inspiration and finished piece."
Try making a piece inspired by nature. Show us what you create and what inspired it.
💡 Example: "Try making a piece inspired by nature. Show us what you create and what inspired it."
Challenge: Use only two colors in your next glaze. Share your palette and final piece.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Use only two colors in your next glaze. Share your palette and final piece."
Make a piece without any tools except your hands. Who wants to try?
💡 Example: "Make a piece without any tools except your hands. Who wants to try?"
Show us your most dramatic pottery fail and what you learned from it.
💡 Example: "Show us your most dramatic pottery fail and what you learned from it."
Who can finish a piece using only recycled clay this weekend? Post your results.
💡 Example: "Who can finish a piece using only recycled clay this weekend? Post your results."
Try carving a pattern you have never tried before. Share your process and finished work.
💡 Example: "Try carving a pattern you have never tried before. Share your process and finished work."
Make a functional pottery piece for your kitchen and show us how you use it.
💡 Example: "Make a functional pottery piece for your kitchen and show us how you use it."
This month, try a pottery technique from another culture. Share what you learned.
💡 Example: "This month, try a pottery technique from another culture. Share what you learned."
Can you make something with an unusual clay body? Post your experiments.
💡 Example: "Can you make something with an unusual clay body? Post your experiments."
Quick challenge: Make a mug in under 30 minutes. Who is up for it?
💡 Example: "Quick challenge: Make a mug in under 30 minutes. Who is up for it?"
Share a piece you made that surprised you. What was unexpected about it?
💡 Example: "Share a piece you made that surprised you. What was unexpected about it?"
Who can make the thinnest bowl without breaking it? Show us your results.
💡 Example: "Who can make the thinnest bowl without breaking it? Show us your results."
Try making a lidded box this week. First-timers, share your questions and progress.
💡 Example: "Try making a lidded box this week. First-timers, share your questions and progress."
Pick a random color and make your next piece with it. Share your color and creation.
💡 Example: "Pick a random color and make your next piece with it. Share your color and creation."
Challenge: Make a matching set of three small bowls. Show us the set together.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Make a matching set of three small bowls. Show us the set together."
Try sgraffito decoration if you have never done it. Share your first attempt.
💡 Example: "Try sgraffito decoration if you have never done it. Share your first attempt."
Make a piece inspired by your favorite artist. Who inspired you and why?
💡 Example: "Make a piece inspired by your favorite artist. Who inspired you and why?"
Who wants to try making a teapot this month? Share progress and tips.
💡 Example: "Who wants to try making a teapot this month? Share progress and tips."
Create a piece with a texture you have never used before. Post your results.
💡 Example: "Create a piece with a texture you have never used before. Post your results."
Make a pottery piece that represents your mood today. What did you create?
💡 Example: "Make a pottery piece that represents your mood today. What did you create?"
Try using an unexpected household item as a pottery tool. Share your experiment.
💡 Example: "Try using an unexpected household item as a pottery tool. Share your experiment."
Can you make a piece that stacks with another? Show us your stacking creations.
💡 Example: "Can you make a piece that stacks with another? Show us your stacking creations."
Create a piece with a theme of water. What ideas did you explore?
💡 Example: "Create a piece with a theme of water. What ideas did you explore?"
Who can make the most creative planter? Share your wildest ideas.
💡 Example: "Who can make the most creative planter? Share your wildest ideas."
Try making a slab-built box. Never tried slab building? Now is your chance.
💡 Example: "Try making a slab-built box. Never tried slab building? Now is your chance."
Share your best tip for surviving a pottery challenge. What helps you stay motivated?
💡 Example: "Share your best tip for surviving a pottery challenge. What helps you stay motivated?"
Can you make a piece that combines two techniques? Show us your hybrid creations.
💡 Example: "Can you make a piece that combines two techniques? Show us your hybrid creations."
Challenge: Make a piece inspired by your favorite season. Show us your inspiration.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Make a piece inspired by your favorite season. Show us your inspiration."
Try throwing on the wheel with your eyes closed for a minute. Share your experience.
💡 Example: "Try throwing on the wheel with your eyes closed for a minute. Share your experience."
Make a piece for a friend or loved one. Who did you make it for and why?
💡 Example: "Make a piece for a friend or loved one. Who did you make it for and why?"
Try making a plate with a textured rim. Post your methods and finished plate.
💡 Example: "Try making a plate with a textured rim. Post your methods and finished plate."
Challenge: Use only scraps from your studio to create something new. Show us what you make.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Use only scraps from your studio to create something new. Show us what you make."
Who can make the lightest cup that can still hold water? Show us your creations.
💡 Example: "Who can make the lightest cup that can still hold water? Show us your creations."
Try making a piece with a single continuous line carved into it. Share your designs.
💡 Example: "Try making a piece with a single continuous line carved into it. Share your designs."
Share your workspace as you take on this week's challenge. Messy or neat, let's see it.
💡 Example: "Share your workspace as you take on this week's challenge. Messy or neat, let's see it."
Select a template that fits your community's mood or upcoming theme. Announce the challenge with clear instructions and a timeline. Encourage members to post progress photos, ask questions, or share tips related to the challenge. Offer small rewards or spotlight participants to boost motivation. Keep tasks simple and fun, so everyone feels welcome to join.
These templates work across all platforms. Adapt the format to fit your channel, such as using hashtags on Instagram, polls in Facebook Groups, or threads in forums. Always pin or feature the challenge post for visibility and remind members with updates.
Consider your members' skill levels, interests, and current discussions. Pick challenges that are fun, achievable, and relevant.
Monthly or bi-weekly challenges keep momentum without overwhelming members. Adjust frequency based on engagement.
Offer small prizes like feature posts, digital badges, or shoutouts. Recognition often motivates more than material rewards.
Keep tasks simple, celebrate every entry, and remind members there is no pressure to be perfect. Share your own attempts first.
Yes, these templates are flexible. Use them in social media, forums, or in-person meetups to fit your group's needs.
Rotate themes, experiment with different formats, and invite members to suggest future challenge ideas.
Remind members of the challenge, spotlight early entries, and lower barriers by making tasks easier or more playful.