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Practice possitions available in Crete island 2022

GENERAL INFORMATIO

Duration: 2 months

Possitions: studio assistant 

Commitment: full-time

Description: Practice position in ceramic studio available in Crete island for two months: May-June and July-August, August-September. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic people with passion for ceramics and strong motivation to learn pottery studio everyday life by participating in all creative stages of the daily duties : working with clay, welcoming customers, PR, work planning, wholesales, keep the studio clean & tidy.

Requirements:

• Able to deliver all administrative tasks

• Volunteering experience

• Ability to organize own work and prioritize tasks

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills

• Committed to following a project through, from start to finish

• Creativity and ability to work on own initiative and meeting deadlines

• Fluent English language ( French & German languages are advance )

• Responsibility

• Experience in ceramic fields is advance

Ea ceramic studio is situated in a small touristic mountains village in the heart of Crete island. Located 25 km from third biggest city of the island – Rethymno, traditional pottery village of Margarites keeps deep history of local ceramics. Among 20 pottery workshops in the site, there are monastery, coffee places, walking paths and food taverns.

We offer:

• Trust and responsibilities given from day one

• Possibility to develop your skill and assets

• Recommendation letters

• Creativev athmosphare and location with other 20 pottery workshops

• Possibility to work on your own ceramic projects

• Availability to see how ceramic studio operates in backstage-duties, responsibilities, routines

Please note! Internship contract from University is required. Applicants are encouraged to apply for European financial support such as Erasmus+ or University support and any other means for private funding for this work practice.

Applications will be analyzed and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis

Don't hesitate to contact eaceramicstudio@gmail.com for further information or questions. 

No financial compensation

STUDENTS REWIEVS AFTER PRACTICE:

 Summer 2023 May-June

The past period has been a very nice unique experience. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn everything about ceramic. 

From the first moment I was warmly welcomed in the studio. Ema and Aris are involved with the learning process, but also with how things are going personally in the village. I immediately started working on my goals. I received all the help I needed with this, but also they give me a lot of space to experiment alone. I mainly focused on wheel throwing and the workshops. They helped me so well with this goals and it give me a lot of confidence to continue this at home. I am surprised by the versatility of a ceramics studio and during this internship you get to experience everything.

There is a relaxed vibe in and around the studio. The location of the studio naturally contributes to this. It is a very inspiring environment and I went home with a lot of ideas and energy. Thank you! 

MARIELLA - The Netherlands

Summer 2023 July-August

My experience at ea has been amazing. Better than I could have imagined.
I wanted to thank you for sharing your workspace, your knowledge and your time with me. I have had a fantastic 2 months and thanks to your advice and patience I feel I have learnt a lot during this internship. I was a beginner and I never really felt any pressure for my lack of skills, on the contrary, you made me feel useful anyway, and I am very grateful for that. 

EMMA-Italy 

Summer 2023 July-August

My summer placement at EAceramics was a really nice experience. Through this placement I had the chance to get involvd into the everyday activities of a pottery studio, practice pottery production techniques and learn new skills. All under the guidance of two very friendly people ( Ema&Aris) who were always beenon answering all of my questions, providing tips and offeringa very welcoming environment. Thank you Ema & Aris

ELENI - Greece

 Summer 2023 September-October

I had a great time, I felt very comfortable working with Ema and Aris and I learnt a lot.

DELPHINE - France 

Summer 2022  May-June

My time in ea ceramic studio has been just wonderful. Ema and Aris are patient teachers and during my time there I was not only able to practice different making techniques but I also learnt lots about the running of a small successful ceramic business. For my own projects I was locals who are so exceptionally hospitable and allowed me to share in their work and celebrations. I am planning my next trip back!

ELKE - Ireland 

Summer 2021 August-September

As a complete novice in the field of ceramics, I believe that the apprenticeship at eaceramicstudio opened the door for me to the fascinating world of experimentation and creative development.

Being led by organized Ema and Aris full of vivid imaginations, I quickly learned the basics of working with clay and finding ways to create something out of myself. These past two months have shown me how it really is to run your own studio and how much self-discipline and passion are needed to be able to enjoy the fruits of my work and uplifting comments about it later. Not to mention interesting conversations and listened hours of different jazz schools that made a good vibe and resounded on the street from our studio. Slow living in the village of Margarites was a good opportunity to learn more about myself. Walks surrounded by wild nature allowed me to become more grounded and gave me even more ideas for a hopeful creative future. Overall I am very grateful for having a chance to experience such diversity in all respects and happy to say it was very worth a shot (of raki)!

NATALIA-Poland

 Summer 2019 May-June-July

I would like to start the review for my internship by telling that itFor the past three months I’ve been assisting Ema and Aris in their ceramic studio in the heart
of Margarites, the Cretan Pottery Village. I had the opportunity to practice and improve the different techniques used in the ceramics
production. From the knitting of the clay to the packaging of the final result while assisting in
the shop. This experience also allowed me to interact with people from all over the world, get to know their preferences and tendencies and the most important, their appreciation for the work we put into each and every unique handmade peace. Although this was a small part of my responsibilities it gave me the confidence that I needed to believe, once again, that is possible to live from what you love.
I also have a lot to thank to Ema and Aris who received me as a member of the team since day one. With whom I had so much fun and the pleasure to work with, and learn from for 90, unexpectedly very brief, days. I will always remember them with the same kindness they’ve showed me not only as a mentor but as a friend.

MARGARIDA-Portugal

Summer 2019 August-September

It was totally worth it and that i am so so happy I went for it!
Ema and Aris have been very patience with me and they also guided me in a very smart way through the process of designing and selling the products.
To be honest, I wasn”t expecting at all this high level of interest from them in order to give me some new informations and also the patience to guide me in a way that the informations i already had become more clear.
They were open to my own concepts and opinions and often included me to their debates about what was about to happen on the creative part of the studio.
Personally, a very important detail about this internship is the connection that i had with them two.
I had the change to learn the wheel throwing from Aris the potter, which is a very special task i”m happy i came back with. They have this special skills to show you that you’re able to do things you never imagined before.
The last but not the least, the atmoshere in the studio is something absolutely special: on the rythm of Jazz, the magic happens at ea ceramic studio. ????

LUDMILA - Romania

Summer 2018 May-June
EA ceramics studio internship evaluation

During my two month internship in EA ceramics studio I have obtained many different skills that I see as important in running your own ceramic studio. My mentors carefully guided me through the whole process of product designing, making and presenting it to public.
I really appreciated how they included me into their debates about new ideas for products or explaining me the concepts behind their most successful ones. That gave me a different perspective on the possibilities of product development as it was presented to me at the university.
Letting me actively participating in their working process was another important opportunity which helped me upgrade my practical skills. Giving a list of daily tasks, was a very good way to let me try all the working techniques they are using in the studio. I did some slab building, wheel throwing, preparing the products for the first firing and also glazing. I appreciated their approach; by observing my work and talking with me about my interests, they adjusted their programme in the way that suited me the most. As a consequence, I was allowed to do a lot of wheel throwing, which was my favourite way of work. They also let me work on my personal projects after finishing my daily tasks. I also enjoyed the daily multitasking job; simultaneously running a shop and finishing the products. That way it was never boring.
Another very positive thing was the working atmosphere and our relationship. I never felt overlooked, but always as an equal part of their team. They appreciated my opinion and helped me out with advices when I had questions about the work process. I have also learned many things that can help with simplifying it. They were also very helpful with everything else that I needed; from travelling hints to some life hacks while staying on Crete.
Before I went to do my internship in EA ceramics studio I had no perception how it will look like in practice. Now I can say that it was one of the most valuable and positive experiences in my life and that the acknowledgment for this definitely goes to my mentors who gave me the opportunity to work in their studio. I really enjoyed everyday I have spent there; not only because of the work I love but also because of my employers.

MARUSA - Slovenia

Summer 2018 August-September

My experience from “ea ceramic studio” is dual. From one hand I have to admit that it gave me a bunch of new experiences based on ceramics, I can see my actual progress in wheel throwing technique and my perception of working in the studio is more clear than it was before. But from another hand, this experience gave me much more. I had the opportunity to live in an extremely beautiful place - Margarites. To meet beautiful people and to make friends. As far as I can see that yes, it gave me the possibility to work with clay and to learn a lot from it, But I do worship the most how this touched myself as a human being. And that’s the thing I will be always thankful for.

SYMONIDA-Poland

Summer 2018 April-May

It was an amazing adventure for me. I felt I became a member of the group from the first moment. I made some own project and I also helped out by Ema's and Aris's works. I also get expetinences about how to talk to the customers and to make workshop for them. But I think the most helpful part is that I could see how works a design studio.
Ema and Aris were very supportive and always helped me when I made something stupid. :)
Thank you guys everything!

BORIBALA - Hungary