Pottery classes have returned to Moresby Arts Theatre (MAT) for the first time in 20 years, giving young Papua New Guinean potter Melsen Kelebi the chance to turn his hobby into a serious pursuit.
Supported by Australia’s Incentive Fund, the MAT pottery barn was refurbished in 2025 and new kilns installed, allowing pottery classes to be revived.
The upgrade prompted Australian ceramic artist, Natasha Bing, to approach MAT with a proposal to run pottery classes.
The upgrade prompted Australian ceramic artist, Natasha Bing, to approach MAT with a proposal to run pottery classes.
“When I arrived in PNG, I contacted Moresby Arts Centre and said I was interested in doing pottery. I brought over some of my own tools from home, and I’m really excited to be sharing what I know and hopefully train some people who can carry on after I leave the country,” Natasha said.
Melsen had long held an interest in pottery but until the classes at MAT were revived, he did not have an avenue through which to pursue it.
He joined his first class in late 2025 and has since moved into a Pottery Assistant role, supporting class preparation, delivery and clean-up. He also sources his own clay and works with Natasha to test it and combine it with commercial clay to make various items.
Pottery is widespread in Papua New Guinea, with diverse regional styles and ancestral art forms. However, it faces modern challenges such as a decline in the use of traditional pots in urban areas. This highlights the need to train young Papua New Guineans to revive this traditional craft.
“What the Moresby Arts Theatre has done here by creating this studio is bringing back that lost art, bringing back that lost piece of our culture,” Melsen said.
He encouraged young people with an interest in pottery or any other interest to look for the opportunities to pursue it.
“What I took from this is that you can create your own opportunities. Don’t wait for anybody else, if you want to learn something, go for it,” he said.
Australia is proud to partner with Papua New Guinea to support local institutions like MAT, strengthening skills, preserving culture and creating opportunities for young people.
