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.
You can adapt the templates to prompt your community members to share their experiences or results with specific glazing methods like raku, celadon, or sgraffito. For example, you might set a 'Glaze of the Month' challenge, encouraging members to post photos and discuss their process, successes, and challenges with that technique. This helps drive technical discussion and visual engagement around a key Pottery topic.
Leverage the templates to create a friendly rivalry where members post their wheel-thrown versus handbuilt pieces. You can provide prompts such as ‘Show your favorite wheel-thrown mug vs handbuilt mug’ or encourage members to share tips unique to each method. This not only sparks discussion but also educates newcomers about the core forming techniques in Pottery.
Absolutely. Use the templates to start a 'Bisque Critique' challenge, inviting members to post photos of their bisque-fired works and ask for feedback on form, trimming, or surface preparation before glazing. This scenario is very specific to Pottery, where peer review at the bisque stage can help improve final outcomes.
You can use the templates to prompt members to share photos and stories from their latest kiln opening—whether it’s a triumph or a mishap like glaze runs, cracks, or unexpected color results. This sparks authentic conversation around common Pottery community experiences and allows members to learn from each other's kiln-firing processes.
Adapt the templates to launch themed challenges such as ‘Winter Mugs’, ‘Spring Planters’, or ‘Holiday Ornaments’. Encourage members to post their creations, discuss the functional and decorative choices they made, and share techniques like slip trailing or underglaze painting relevant to seasonal pieces. This maintains engagement and showcases diverse Pottery skills.
Initiate challenges that invite members to showcase their studio organization, custom tools, or unique solutions for reclaiming clay or wedging. For example, a ‘Studio Hack’ challenge can prompt members to post photos and tips about their workspace arrangements, DIY tools, or equipment modifications—topics that are highly relevant and useful to the Pottery community.
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