The 2026 K-12 program at Clay Gulgong was continued to build the Digital Showcase and the K-12 National Competition and Exhibition. With the success of the inaugural Teachers’ professional learning day in 2024, this was expanded to a two day Teachers Workshop event with curriculum and artist presentations as well as hands-on workshop sessions with artists, Chanakarn Semachai (Punch), Marina Pribaz and Keith Brymer Jones. Over 60 teachers attended the two day workshop.
The K-12 National Competition and Exhibition of works was held again in the Holtermann Museum. Finalists were selected from the 2026 Digital Showcase which featured over 180 ceramic works from secondary schools in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. Over 47 finalist works were installed amongst the exhibition displays in the main part of the museum.
The competition was judged by Clay Gulgong Master, Keith Brymer Jones, host of the popular UK program, The Great Pottery Throwdown. Keith is an expert potter and is the patron of the National Association for Fine Art Education in Britain. He praised the standard of the student entries for their skill and for their creativity. Significant prizes were provided by the Clay Gulgong festival sponsors, Australian Pottery Suppliers, Blackwattle Pottery, Interdec, Northcote Ceramics, Rohde, Walker Ceramics, S&S Wholesale and Eckersley’s Art and Craft.
We would like to particularly acknowledge the support of Blackwattle Pottery who supplied clay, stains and tools for the teacher workshops and to Australian Pottery Supplies who provided wheels for the workshops. We are grateful for their interest and support.
The K-12 program was very successful and positively received by the over 500 delegates at the Clay Gulgong festival. So stay tuned for an exciting 2028 festival which will include these events again for K-12 teachers and students.
STAGE 6 Prizes
| Student | Title | School | Award | Sponsor |
| Remy | Untitled | Sydney Grammar School, NSW | First | Clay Gulgong Sponsors |
| Hasrat | Untitled | Caroline Chisholm College, NSW | Highly Commended | S&S Wholesalers |
| Tracy | Untitled | Meriden School, NSW | Highly Commended | Northcote Pottery Supplies |
| Trinity | Untitled | Caroline Chisholm College, NSW | Judges Commendation | Eckersley’s Art and Design |
STAGE 5 Prizes
| Student | Title | School | Award | Sponsor |
| Sophie | Untitled | Caroline Chisholm College, NSW | First | Clay Gulgong Sponsors |
| Trinity | Untitled | Cowra High School, NSW | Highly Commended | S&S Wholesalers |
| Addisyn | Untitled | Presbyterian Ladies College, VIC | Highly Commended | Northcote Pottery Supplies |
| Jonathon | Untitled | Trinity Grammar School, NSW | Judges Commendation | Eckersley’s Art and Design |
STAGE 4 Prizes
| Student | Title | School | Award | Sponsor |
| Shimmer | Untitled | Meriden School, NSW | First | Clay Gulgong Sponsors |
| Austin | Untitled | St Dominic’s College, NSW | Highly Commended | S&S Wholesalers |
| Jonah | Untitled | Trinity Grammar School | Highly Commended | Northcote Pottery Supplies |
| Viki | Untitled | Kelvin Grove State College, QLD | Judges Commendation | Eckersley’s Art and Design |
SPONSORS
