Studio Manager Residency

Type: Full- time, fixed 12 Month Residency
Location: Calhau & Mindelo, São Vicente
Hours: 40 hours/week

About SOLM

SOLM is a nonprofit organisation reimagining the future of tourism through regenerative hospitality. Based in Cabo Verde, we work in deep collaboration with local communities to restore and revitalize the social, cultural, and ecological fabric of places impacted by tourism.

Atelier SOLM is our ceramics and community space, connecting ceramic production, learning, and hospitality. Alongside workshops and public experiences, the atelier produces functional and decorative ceramics for hospitality spaces, local partners, and SOLM collections.

The Residency

We are looking for an experienced ceramicist to join SOLM for a 12-month Studio Manager Residency in São Vicente.

This is a hands-on production and studio management role. The Studio Manager will be actively making ceramics alongside our team while overseeing the daily functioning of the studio, coordinating production, maintaining materials and equipment, supporting workshops and guest experiences, and teaching when required.

This residency is best suited to someone who already has strong studio and production experience and is comfortable moving between making, teaching, organization, and day-to-day problem solving.

Ceramic Production

  • Participate directly in the production of Atelier SOLM ceramics and collections.

  • Production throwing and preparation of clay for studio use.

  • Wedge and prepare clay consistently for production.

  • Glaze, wax, sand, finish, and prepare pieces throughout the production cycle.

  • Recycle and reclaim clay and maintain an efficient clay-recycling system.

  • Support kiln loading, firing, unloading, and general firing processes.

  • Maintain consistency and quality across repeatable production pieces.

  • Support testing of clay bodies, glazes, finishes, forms, and production processes.

  • Help establish efficient production workflows as Atelier SOLM grows.

Studio Management

  • Oversee the day-to-day organization and functioning of the ceramics studio.

  • Maintain a clean, safe, functional, and welcoming working environment.

  • Manage clay, glazes, tools, equipment, materials, and other studio supplies.

  • Monitor inventory and coordinate purchasing and restocking.

  • Maintain wheels, kilns, tools, workspaces, and shared studio equipment.

  • Organize production schedules and ensure work moves efficiently through making, drying, firing, glazing, and finishing.

  • Track studio expenses, receipts, purchases, and monthly expense reporting.

  • Identify operational or maintenance needs and coordinate solutions.

  • Manage atelier staff schedules, work direction and deliverables.

Workshops, Teaching & Guest Experiences

  • Coordinate the studio calendar for workshops, classes, open studio sessions, and guest experiences.

  • Prepare materials, tools, workstations, and spaces ahead of each session.

  • Teach and support ceramics workshops for beginners, visitors, community members, and learners.

  • Support guest experiences with warmth, patience, and strong technical guidance.

  • Coordinate firing and finishing of guest pieces after workshops.

  • Support private groups, events, visiting artists, and other atelier activities.

Learning & Community

  • Share technical knowledge with SOLM learners and emerging ceramicists.

  • Support learners in developing confidence, consistency, and good studio practices.

  • Work collaboratively with local ceramicists, visiting residents, teachers, and the wider SOLM team.

  • Contribute to a studio culture rooted in care, experimentation, knowledge-sharing, and respect for Cabo Verdean ceramic traditions.

What We’re Looking For

  • Professional ceramics studio experience is required.

  • Production ceramics experience is required, including confidence producing consistent work efficiently.

  • Strong wheel-throwing skills, including production throwing.

  • Experience with clay preparation and wedging, glazing, waxing, sanding, finishing, and clay recycling.

  • Comfortable maintaining an organized and functional ceramics studio.

  • Experience teaching or facilitating ceramics workshops.

  • Comfortable working with beginners as well as experienced makers.

  • Highly organized and able to balance production, studio operations, teaching, and guest experiences.

  • Comfortable tracking supplies, purchases, receipts, and expenses.

  • Proactive, independent, practical, and solution-oriented.

  • Able to work collaboratively across different cultures, backgrounds, and levels of ceramic experience.

  • Fluent in English and Portuguese.

  • Must live in São Vicente for the full duration of the 12-month residency. Relocation support is available for the selected resident.

What We Offer

  • A paid, full-time 12-month residency with SOLM in São Vicente, Cabo Verde.

  • Relocation support for candidates moving to São Vicente.

  • Access to a working ceramics studio, equipment, and materials for production.

  • The opportunity to contribute directly to the development of Atelier SOLM and its production practice.

  • The opportunity to work alongside Cabo Verdean ceramicists, learners, visiting artists, and hospitality partners.

  • Space to exchange knowledge, develop your practice, and contribute to a growing ceramics community rooted in place.