Creative Workshop: Egyptian Ceramics
National Museum of Scotland
Tickets from £30, Members and concessions available
About Creative Workshop: Egyptian Ceramics
Explore Egyptian pottery with writer and ceramicist Mohamed Tonsy. Create your own decorative piece, inspired by historical objects from the National Collection.
Mohamed will be joined by one of our Curators of the Ancient Mediterranean, who will share their knowledge about Egyptian objects in the collection.
The session will look in detail at ‘olla – terracotta water vessels – and particularly the filters that were hidden inside. These functional filters were often richly decorated with geometric designs and written blessings. In this hands-on workshop you can use these humble but beautiful objects as inspiration to create your own decorative clay piece to take away.
This event is part of Edinburgh Art Festival.
Good to know
- Please meet at the Entrance Hall Desk on Level 0 at 13:45
- Suitable for all abilities
- All materials will be provided
- Please note that the decorative clay pieces you will create are not food safe.
Image gallery
Strainer from a water jar of unglazed earthenware, decorated with a perforated circular design. A.1920.194.
Strainer from a water jar, of unglazed earthenware, decorated with a perforated circular design. A.1920.198.
Ticketing information
Ticket prices
| Ticket type | Price |
| Adult | £30 |
| Member | £25 |
| Over 65s | £28 |
| Student, Disabled, Unemployed, Young Scot | £25 |
| Accompanying essential carer | Free |
Ticketing terms and conditions
National Museums Scotland have a non-refundable and non-transferable ticketing policy.
About the artist
Mohamed Tonsy is an Edinburgh-based Egyptian writer and ceramicist. He moved to Edinburgh to complete his PhD in creative writing, taking up ceramics. Ceramics provides an additional language to express his experiences and intersectional identity, bridging Arabic and English. He has worked with our curatorial team to explore the National Museums collections, through the lived experience of Egyptian communities.
Accessibility and facilities
We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.
How to get to the space
You can make your way to the studios by walking through the Collecting Stories gallery. Walk up the staircase to Level 4. Turn right and the studios will be through the doors ahead of you.
There is also lift access via the lift next to the staircase. The dimensions of the lift are 137cm x 150cm (4ft 6in x 4ft 11in).
The door to each studio is not automatic and cannot be opened by a push pad. During an event it may already be open or a staff member will available to offer assistance.
Wheelchair access
There is significant space to use a wheelchair in each studio.
Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the information desks at the Entrance Hall and Tower Entrance. They cannot be booked in advance.
Seating
Tables and seating in the studios are not fixed.
Hearing induction loops
There is no induction loop in either studio.
Toilets and baby changing
The nearest toilets are on Level 4 next to the studios. There are standard toilets and an accessible toilet. A baby changing table is located in the accessible toilet.
If you require a changing places toilet, please ask a member of staff.
Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about this event, please get in touch by:
- Email: publicevents@nms.ac.uk
Part of
Delivered as part of Edinburgh Art Festival
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