(Sydney Dickson | Photo courtesy of Synergy Ceramics)
Local Pottery Studio Seeks to Expand their Business Model
Synergy Ceramics is a studio and gallery dedicated to teaching the art of pottery and creating community. Located on NE Division Street, Synergy Ceramics offers Central Oregon educational lessons and classes, as well as a selection of professionally made local pottery that is available for purchase. In order to expand their business operations, Synergy Ceramics plans on expanding their studio with the help of a Kickstarter campaign that is on their website.
Co-owner of the studio, Sydney Dickson, first got into ceramics when she was attending high school in Portland. She came to Central Oregon to pursue a business degree with Central Oregon Community College when she found out the studio where her pottery class was being held was hiring. After getting hired as a kiln and fire technician for the COCC Studio, her career began to blossom. Eventually, she would open up Synergy Ceramics in Bend with her good friend and fellow potter, AJ Evansen, the other current co-owner.
“The expansion would allow more workshops, more classes and more fun events like pottery date nights,” Dickson said. “We’ll also be able to allow members 24/7 access to a part of the studio that will be separate from where the classes are held.”
Memberships are offered to dedicated individuals who have taken a 5 week training course and have shown that they can work independently. As of now, there is a waitlist for memberships, but that waitlist will get smaller if Synergy Ceramics is able to move forward with their expansion and provide members more space to work.
Community is a big part of what Dickson provides, “We want to create a space that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, even if that person cannot afford classes,” she said. “We offer internships and trade work [programs where people can help around the shop cleaning and doing other tasks in lieu of membership fees.”
Another important aspect to Synergy Ceramics is simply the fact that it supports local arts in a way that shows artists how to succeed. “I’ve had younger people, 17 or 18 years old, show an interest in ceramics but now really know how to make money with it, or know how to pursue it as an adult. I want to show them it is possible,” Dickson said. “Here you can grow your skills, learn an artform and become part of a supportive community of professional and amateur artists who lift each other up and network with one another.”
Currently, the Kickstarter has reached about 70% of the final fundraising goal. If the goal is not reached by February 11, none of the funds raised will go to the business, due to Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing style of fundraising.
Dickson remains confident in the Kickstarter and the Bend community, “Central Oregon has been amazing,” she said. “This community really supports artists, and there is a clear demand for a ceramics studio. There was a huge gap in the market, and I believe we fill that gap.”
For more information regarding Synergy Ceramics and their Kickstarter campaign, please visit their website, SynergyCeramicsBend.com.
