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STUDIO TECHNICIAN

Montsalvat is one of Australia’s oldest continuously active artistic communities, a unique cultural precinct spanning more than ninety years of creative practice across heritage buildings, artist studios, galleries, performance spaces and five hectares of gardens in Eltham.

Clay Talk Ceramic Centre sits within the grounds of Montsalvat and is one of the most dynamic and thriving parts of the organisation. A hands-on studio since 2013, it serves over 100 students each week across term classes, workshops and open studio programs for adults, young people and children.

With the growth and demands of the studio, Clay Talk is now focused on consolidating its programs and strengthening its identity as a vibrant creative hub within Montsalvat. This role represents a great opportunity to help shape that next chapter from the ground up.

We are seeking an energetic, experienced and highly capable Studio Technician to drive the hands-on, practical functions of the studio.

This is not a desk-based studio management role.

The successful applicant will work closely with the Manager of Arts Education, teachers, students, partners and internal teams to deliver a hands-on and efficient approach to keeping the studio running: kilns fired, floors clean, clay reclaimed and materials stocked.

For the right person, this is a genuinely hands-on opportunity: a role for someone equally comfortable at the pug mill or in a room full of young makers, who takes pride in a well-run studio, brings real energy to the space and wants to be part of this growing community of makers.

This role may particularly appeal to applicants seeking to be involved with a dynamic art studio and community, with a view to helping it continue to grow.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Studio Technician will:

• Load, fire and unload electric and gas kilns safely and to schedule.
• Regularly lift and move heavy loads, including kiln furniture, front-loading kilns, and packing and unpacking wood kilns.
• Operate reduction firing processes and manage atmosphere control on gas kilns.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot electric and gas kiln faults, and carry out or coordinate repairs.
• Maintain accurate firing records, kiln logs and incident reports.
• Keep kiln furniture, shelves and props clean, maintained and correctly stored.
• Maintain a clean, safe and well organised studio at all times.
• Pressure wash studio floors weekly or as required.
• Pug and reclaim clay as part of regular studio maintenance.
• Receive, unpack and store deliveries of clay and materials, including heavy lifting.
• Monitor equipment and promptly report any issues to the Manager of Arts Education.
• Assist with glaze production, batch mixing and material preparation.
• Apply a working knowledge of glaze chemistry to diagnose and resolve glaze faults.
• Work confidently in a busy, shared studio environment alongside students and classes.
• Be comfortable working in dusty, wet and physically demanding conditions.
• Hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) (mandator

ABOUT YOU

You may come from a trade, production, technical or hands-on labour background, including ceramics, manufacturing, construction, technical services, maintenance or similar physically active environments.

You will likely bring:

• A background in a trade, production, technical or hands-on labour role.
• Experience managing reclaimed clay processes and operating a pug mill.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, community-minded approach.
• The ability to work independently, follow schedules and manage competing physical demands.
• Confidence working under the direction and supervision of the Manager of Arts Education.
• Confidence working in a busy, shared environment with students and classes around you.

Experience within a working ceramics or production studio will be highly regarded, and experience as a long-term practising ceramic artist is highly desirable.

ABOUT THE TEAM & CULTURE

Montsalvat has a deeply committed and unusually connected staff culture. The team is energetic, collaborative and highly motivated by the future potential of the organisation and the significance of the site itself.

This is a workplace where people care deeply about the artistic community, the built environment and the long-term future of the organisation. There is a strong sense of shared purpose, adaptability and creative possibility.

MORE INFORMATION

Remuneration is a casual rate of $36–42 per hour (inclusive of casual loading), depending on qualifications and experience, plus superannuation as per current legislation.

To apply

Applications should be submitted in writing to admin@montsalvat.com.au by 14 August 2026, addressing the selection criteria and including contact details for referees.

Applications close: Friday 14 August 2026.