Shared experiences over tea is a research project that investigates the impact a ceramic design project with a social and community orientated focus can have on students to develop independence and personal connections with their work. The study explores the ways in which learning through social interaction and making can benefit learners.  Furthermore, it provides a case-specific example of the ways in which teachers can utilise community based learning to create original meaningful artwork in the classroom.

Through engaging with and responding to local’s stories 2nd year students became immersed in the making of meaningful art where students became researchers, interviewers, creators, and curators. Students built relationships with place and community by exploring its economic history and decline through digital recording of stories from the people working and living in their community. In groups students made ceramic tea sets each representing an industry that was once thriving in their locality. These tea sets become an object for response promoting dialogue between young people and their community about economic issues in their locality. By intentionally linking academic standers to the real world of the community, this course narrowed the gap between knowledge and action and between what students must learn and what they can contribute to.