Most people know Bendigo Pottery as Australia's oldest working pottery, but there is a side to the site that goes well beyond stoneware. The Village of Artisans Bendigo locals and visitors are discovering is a working creative precinct, home to a genuine community of independent artists working in glass, metal, silver, textiles, paint and more, all under one roof alongside the pottery itself.
Bendigo Pottery has been part of the Bendigo community since 1858, and today the site brings that same spirit of skilled, hands-on making to a much wider range of local artists and craftspeople.
In this blog, we will understand what the Village of Artisans is, the studios and artists who call it home, and why Bendigo Pottery has grown far more than a ceramics maker over its long history.
What Is the Village of Artisans?
The Village of Artisans is a collection of independent artist studios for Bendigo residents and visitors can walk through in person, housed within the Bendigo Pottery site alongside the working pottery, museum and café. Rather than a single gallery curating other people's work, each studio is run directly by the artist who creates in it, giving visitors a genuine look at how the work is actually made.
It is this working, hands-on character that sets the Village apart from a typical retail gallery or gift shop. Visitors are not just browsing finished pieces, they are stepping into active working artist studios Bendigo has quietly built into one of its most distinctive creative destinations.
Which Local Artists and Studios Call the Village Home?
Seven studios currently make up the Village of Artisans, each bringing a genuinely different craft to the site:
1 - Etcetera Gallery, run by Cherryl Fyffe, showcasing printmaking, multimedia works, textiles and opal jewellery.
2 - Blue Water Silver, run by Emily West, producing handcrafted sterling silver jewellery.
3 - Linking Energy, run by Leanne Grylls, specialising in lampworked glass beads and glass figurines.
4 - Studio B, run by Joan Harris, dedicated to mixed-media collage art.
4 - Joybells 'One of a Kind' Studio, run by Joy Tatt, showcasing contemporary painting in oils and acrylics alongside emerging local artisans.
5 - Glenwillow Wines, run by Peter Fyffe, offering premium wines alongside opals sourced from the White Cliffs mine.
Together, these local artists Bendigo residents have come to know well represent a genuine cross-section of Australian craft, from jewellery and glasswork through to painting, sculpture and wine, all working independently within the one precinct.
Why Does Bendigo Pottery Support Handmade Art and Craft Beyond Ceramics?
Supporting handmade art and craft Australia wide has always sat close to what Bendigo Pottery represents, since the site's own history is built on skilled, hands-on making rather than mass production. Extending that support to independent artists working in other mediums reflects a genuine belief in local craftsmanship, not just an opportunity to fill retail space.
For the artists themselves, being part of an established, well-known site gives their work exposure to visitors who may never have otherwise found a standalone studio, while keeping their process and pricing entirely their own rather than being absorbed into a generic retail model.
What Makes This a Genuine Creative Community, Not Just a Shopping Stop?
A true creative community Bendigo can be proud of is built on artists who genuinely work alongside one another, not simply a collection of stalls sharing a car park. The studios that make up the Village of Artisans operate independently day to day, but share a physical space, visitor traffic and, in many cases, decades of relationships built through working in close proximity to one another.
That distinction matters for anyone looking to buy local art rather than mass produced décor. Every piece sold through the Village comes directly from the artist who made it, with a story and process behind it that a generic artisan marketplace built purely for retail cannot offer.
Many of these relationships have also grown into genuine collaboration over time, with artists referring visitors between studios, sharing techniques across mediums, and occasionally exhibiting work together, the kind of organic creative exchange that only happens when a community of makers is genuinely working side by side, not just co-located for convenience.
For local makers themselves, being part of this kind of community also offers something a standalone studio cannot: shared foot traffic, shared visibility, and a built-in network of fellow craftspeople to learn from and be inspired by.
Planning a Visit to the Village of Artisans
The Village of Artisans sits within the Bendigo Pottery site, alongside the working pottery, museum, café and shop, making it easy to combine a visit to multiple studios with a broader look at Bendigo's pottery heritage in a single trip. Studio opening hours vary slightly, with most operating across the Wednesday or Thursday through Monday period, so checking ahead for specific studios is worthwhile if you have a particular artist or craft in mind.
A half day is generally enough time to walk through all seven studios at a relaxed pace, browse the working pottery and museum, and stop at the on-site café, making the Village an easy addition to a Bendigo day trip rather than requiring a special separate visit.
For visitors wanting to buy directly from a particular artist, contacting the individual studio ahead of time is a good idea, since some artists work to their own hours around commissions or off-site exhibitions in addition to their listed studio days.
Conclusion
Bendigo Pottery's story has always been about skilled, local making, and the Village of Artisans is a natural extension of that same spirit into glass, metal, silver, paint and more. For anyone wanting to buy local art directly from the Australian artists who made it, or simply spend an afternoon exploring genuine working artist studios, the Village of Artisans is one of Bendigo's most distinctive creative destinations.
Whether you are planning a day trip from Melbourne or exploring your own backyard, the Village of Artisans is worth building time into your visit for.
Plan your visit to the Village of Artisans at Bendigo Pottery, and meet the local artists behind each studio in person.
FAQs
What is the Village of Artisans at Bendigo Pottery?
The Village of Artisans is a working creative precinct within the Bendigo Pottery site, made up of independent artist studios covering crafts such as printmaking, sculpture, jewellery, glass bead making, collage art, painting and wine, each run directly by the artist who works there.
How many studios are in the Village of Artisans?
The Village of Artisans is currently home to seven independent studios, each run by a different local artist and covering a distinct craft, from sterling silver jewellery and lampworked glass beads through to sculpture, painting and wine.
Is the Village of Artisans open every day?
Most studios in the Village of Artisans operate from Wednesday or Thursday through to Monday, with the main Bendigo Pottery site closed on Tuesdays. Exact hours vary slightly by studio, so checking ahead for a specific artist is recommended.
Can you buy art directly from the artists at the Village of Artisans?
Yes, every studio in the Village of Artisans is run by the artist who created the work, so visitors can buy directly from the maker rather than through a third-party retailer, and often speak with the artist about the piece itself.
Is the Village of Artisans part of Bendigo Pottery or a separate business?
The Village of Artisans is housed within the Bendigo Pottery site, alongside the working pottery, museum and café, but each studio operates as an independent business run by its own artist rather than being owned by Bendigo Pottery.
How long does it take to visit the Village of Artisans?
A relaxed visit to all seven studios in the Village of Artisans, along with the working pottery and museum, typically takes around half a day, making it an easy addition to a broader Bendigo day trip.
