Event information
Starways Arts Centre is a pottery studio, art gallery, and community theatre space which also features music and opera. It was founded in 1991 by Gwyneth Lloyd and Anton van der Merwe. The primary focus of Lloyd’s pottery is on decorating dinner ware, garden pots and making ceramic jewellery. She is assisted by Liyanda Mafika, who trained at the centre.
Starways offers pottery classes and workshops, as well as pottery internships and residencies. It is one of the few potteries in South Africa who offer the experience of wood firing. Starways also hosts 4-day pottery retreats where potters get the chance to work on their technique and craft using Alexander Technique.
Pots made at Starways are a mixture of electric and wood-fired reduction stoneware. The different stylistic approaches of each resident potter is reflected in the work on sale at their Art Centre Gallery and online shop.
Lloyd also directs the East Cape Opera Company, which draws it members from music departments at Fort Hare and Rhodes Universities and local townships. The company performs recitals, a cappella ensembles and full-scale productions at the Starways Rose Theatre. Trance evenings and mini festivals are also a regular annual feature at the venue.
