01-2027 – On Centre – Franco Rampi and Zsófia Földvári

On Centre is a three-month long in-depth course on throwing, glazing, clay bodies and firing techniques for functional ceramics. This is our signature intensive program that has been running since 2015, teaching vital skills for making wheel-thrown pottery.

Who is this course for?

To get the most out of this course, applicants should be able to throw simple items like bowls, cylinders, cups. Committing to a daily throwing practice of three months requires a lot of dedication. Therefore, having attended previous workshops or evening throwing classes is useful to understand if this is for you. The ideal candidate is open to feedback, has a learning mindset and follows the course program to the best of their ability.

Aims

The main aim of the On Centre program is to enable participants achieve confidence and fluency at the wheel. After completing the course, students should be able to throw consistent forms and small series with ease. This intensive ceramic course also gives a theoretical and practical introduction to high-fired ceramic materials (clays, slips, glazes). Moreover, students gain understanding of the day-to-day organization of a ceramic studio – from clay recycling to firing the pieces.

The program

On Centre is divided into two phases.
During the first part, all participants follow the same schedule. The daily demonstrations cover throwing, trimming and glazing a large variety of domestic and decorative items. Students throw with various high-temperature clay bodies, have the chance to fire work both in oxidation and reduction and engage in loading and firing the kilns. In addition, the group fires La Meridiana`s wood-soda kiln with students participating in each step of the process. Course members also receive theoretical information during technical talks and slideshows. Finally, these weeks also include a program focusing on understanding and developing glazes.
During the second part of the ceramic course, participants complete an individual project. This phase enables them to develop their personal voice and to create a body of work using their newly gained skills.
On Centre culminates in an exhibition where each course member can exhibit a selection of pieces. Images of previous student work may be found in our gallery.

Teaching method

Franco Rampi and Zsófia Földvári will jointly guide students thorough the making and finishing of thrown shapes. Each morning and afternoon session begins with a demonstration for the whole group following a pre-defined programme. After the daily demonstrations, participants work on their own and receive one-to-one assistance. The instructors provide constant feedback to support development of each student, so everyone can progress on their own speed. Eve Carrobourg covers specific topics of ceramic technology by holding technical talks, leading the glaze programme and providing critique of fired pieces. She also gives individual guidance for those who wish to include glaze research in their individual project.
The course is organized around weekly learning cycles. Each week covers a group of shapes from simple cylinders on the first week, to complex vessels on the last. Bisque and glaze firings are also organized on a weekly basis. Participants can fire a considerable body of work, achieving fluency in both making and finishing objects. Working in a small group and sharing the studio space with other course members gives plenty of opportunities for peer-learning. A supportive atmosphere and exchange of ideas between students and instructors enriches the learning experience.

Logistics

Day of arrival is Sunday January 3rd, with first class day Monday January 4th. Departure day is on Friday, March 26th, 2027.
Students will stay and study in the supportive environment of La Meridiana, with a generous working space at their disposal) equipped with a wheel, tools, worktable and shelving. The course includes a field trip to Faenza where participants can get inspired by the collections of MIC, Carlo Zauli and Guerrino Tramonti museums. The group size is of maximum nine students.
On every working day, a delicious lunch will be served. At booking, you may select your preferred room type, choosing between Standard lodging at 15 minute-walking distance from the studio , upgraded accommodation on-site or private apartments.
The work made during the course will be fired before departure. We can assist with arranging shipment through a professional shipping company.

Application

Application is ongoing and closes when the course is full. Those interested in participating should follow the application procedure outlined below.

The instructors

Franco Rampi has been working with clay since 1978. After apprenticeships in Italy and England, he returned to Tuscany in 1980 to open his own studio. He first produced functional objects in earthenware with slips and brushed overglaze decoration, before moving to reduction-fired stoneware. While he enjoys throwing traditional functional forms, he also experiments with clays, slips and sculptural objects, incorporating slab-building into his work. Since 2010, Franco has been a valued collaborator and wheel-throwing instructor at La Meridiana. Since 2020 he has also been teaching the in-depth courses “On Centre” and “On the Wheel”. Students find his structured, direct, supportive approach and extensive knowledge invaluable in levelling-up their throwing and glazing skills. Franco recognizes teaching as deeply fulfilling. He enjoys sharing his experience with new generations of potters and passing on the joy of creating on the wheel. www.francorampi.it

Zsófia Földvári grew up in Hungary. She graduated as a scientist, but after discovering a strong passion for clay, she changed direction and studied ceramics in Norway and Italy. Since 2023 she has worked at La Meridiana as teaching assistant and later as an instructor on throwing courses, including several editions of the intensive courses “On Centre Fall” and “On Centre”. When not teaching, Zsófia focuses on developing her own collection of wheel-thrown pottery, combining elegant, quietly expressive forms with surface designs inspired by the surrounding flora. To see more of her work, visit: www.foldvarizsofia.com or @zsofiafoldvari.ceramics on Instagram.

Eve Carrobourg has been a close collaborator of La Meridiana since 2016. She began working with ceramics after completing her studies in Art History in Paris and Florence and trained at La Meridiana under the guidance of Pietro Maddalena and John Colbeck. Discovering a deep passion for glazes, she complemented her education with a year-long specialization on high-fire glazes in France. During her studies, she was awarded the prize of the “Marcel-Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation”.
A passionate and patient educator, Eve has taught glaze technology at the CNIFOP Ceramic Centre in France and currently teaches ceramics in the Fine Arts department of the LdM Institute in Florence. At La Meridiana, she leads glaze workshops and ceramic technology lectures within the intensive courses, where she is known for making complex topics clear, engaging, and accessible, often through humour and vivid metaphors. Aside from her teaching position, her commitment to the school`s vision and growth prompted her join the team also as Program-Coordinator in 2025.