Parramatta is home to many Cafes who supply on average 300 disposable cups per day to consumers of tea and coffee. This project seeks to raise awareness around the environment impact of waste and how the throwaway attitude affects the quality of the beverage experience on personal health and the environment. With 100 Cafes in the CBD that's 30,000 disposable cups per day!!! What a waste.
A Coffee break is something to look forward to during a busy day and consuming a beverage is part of that experience. Parramatta Clay and Arts would like to encourage the daily use of reusable ceramic cups to replace disposable cups .
Made locally by artists living in your community, and with the support of many local Cafes we aim to GIVE AWAY ceramic cups, in exchange for your feedback about how the experience impacted you. Did you feel and taste the difference that the cup makes? Do you feel better knowing that you didn’t taste or ingest toxins from paper or plastic disposable cups; did you notice that your beverage stayed hotter due to the design of the cup? And did you feel better knowing that you reduced daily waste and the costs associated with the purchase and disposable of the cups in your area? We would appreciate your feedback on this matter to change the throw away attitudes of our community.
The cups will be made by local ceramic artists and you will find a tag on the mug that links you to a blog site that connects you with the maker. You get to have a conversation and exchange ideas with local artists in your community. In addition, a series of workshops will be run in Parramatta Cafes and at our studio where you, your business colleagues or friends can make and customise your own mug.
Supporting this venture enables Parramatta Clay and Arts, a local Social Enterprise to continue to provide the community with the programs and mission it set out to do:
Provide a creative space in Parramatta for all members of the community to participate and engage in a creative medium.
Support local potters /artists through employment as teachers and production potters
Make Parramatta active and attractive to residents, businesses, community groups, children and adults wish to participate in a creative medium.
Support emerging student and graduate ceramic artists
Preserve and inform on the craft and knowledge of our ceramic heritage
Background Story
Parramatta Clay and Arts Inc (PCAI) is an incredible Social Enterprise that provides opportunities for everyone in the community to participate and engage with Ceramics and Artistic play no matter what age or stage you're at.
PCAI was devised by founder Di Turner and a graduate group of ceramic artists who wished to work locally and to provide the community with a creative venue for classes and products.
PCAI contracts many artists who teach and sell work from the shop front Gallery. Handmade ceramic products include functional tableware such as cups, bowls, and plates, ornamental, wearable and sculptural work. Artists can also fill orders for Cafes and personal orders. It’s a great place for graduate and tertiary students wishing to further their careers in ceramic arts. With he closure of so many Tafe and University courses in the Creative Arts of late, PCAI can fill this gap and preserve a artisan craft that is centuries old.
Our workshops cater to a cross section of the community from children’s programs to adults; In our evening and weekend courses we find professionals seeking an escape from the demands and stress of their workplace, to those looking for like- minded creative collaboration and socialisation, and for others it’s a pathway towards employment or maybe a new career or leisure learning for retirees.
PCAI works in partnership with community organisations to develop programs for marginalised or isolated people including newly arrived migrant and refugee populations, through art based workshops. These workshops provide alternative avenues for integration and socialisation despite age, ability, language or cultural background, as clay has no barriers and speaks all languages.
