[daggersandscars]

For those in a city / apartment / burn ban / etc, there are publicly accessible kilns in most major (and some minor) cities. Look for places that offer pottery lessons. Depending on the kiln, you can rent a specific fraction of it for a firing or pay by the piece. Local pottery supply stores will know what kilns are available as well.

If you’re near a university with an archeology or anthropology program, they may offer a partial semester “primitive” pottery course. These are a blast and teach interesting techniques for building and decorating pottery objects.

If you have access to a park with bonfire pits, you can do your low firings there. The primitive pottery class I took ended with a combined cookout and firing at a public park a few weeks after the end of the class. The prof rented a shelter with a bonfire pit.

Pottery is a lot of fun. I made a variety of small pieces before I got to fire anything. You don’t need a wheel or any specialized equipment, just some basic clay and patience. Depending on where you live, you can dig your own.

Check out the Great Pottery Throwdown to see mostly modern methods of making pottery in a fun, friendly reality show format. (Think Bake Off.)

[1] Edited to add "friendly" and Bake Off reference.