About The Hey Julie School of Clay
the Hey Julie School of Clay
Pottery is Political
Julie MacKinnon is a single mother and successful potter who built her “School of Clay” while raising twin daughters and running her successful ceramics business. The school began organically as a tiny, in-home space on Salt Spring Island.
What started as intimate workshops in her tiny home studio, has evolved into a dynamic creative hub where over 2,000 students, many of them women and teens facing barriers, have found clay, community, and confidence.
Known for her humour, creativity, and ability to tailor each class to her students' unique needs, Julie creates a fun, supportive environment that encourages reflection, curiosity, and non-judgment.
With her training/apprenticeship and scholarship programming at the heart of the school’s infrastructure, Julie’s vision is both deeply personal and radically generous: to democratize access to craft, create space for artistic and emotional growth, and help emerging potters shape not only vessels, but viable, creative lives.
Her high-calibre instruction and unshakable belief in her students have birthed a ripple effect — former apprentices now run their own studios across Canada, become market vendors and have built viable businesses. New students arrive every month from across North America to experience the alchemy of clay and care.
We’re still raising money to build a glaze material shed and are graciously accepting contributions.
