NATCHEZ — After five years under the guiding hand of Natchez pottery godfather Conner Burns, Natchez Clay has some new hands at the wheel.

Started in 2003 by Burns, the studio — a consortium of local clay artists — was recently sold to Donna Jones and Jacque Stahlman, two artists long associated with the studio.

Though the studio wasn’t up for sale, Jones said she approached Burns about buying it.

“We had had a few meetings, and Conner had expressed to us he missed having time to do his work,” Jones said. “He said he would be happy to trust the studio with the right person. I am glad he trusted it to us.”

After changing hands in June, the studio moved to a new location at 101 Clifton Ave., where Stahlman already had space.

“Conner actually wanted to look at this building when he first (came to Natchez),” Jones said. “I went by there and it was like it was meant to be a pottery studio.”

The building had exactly enough room for the private studios, and the large room they planned to use for a classroom was the perfect size when they moved their tables in. When they converted the garage area in the back of the building for the kiln space, one of the kilns didn’t even need to be vented, Jones said.

“Having my partner for a landlord also works out well,” she said.

But the new location, near the edge of the bluff, has another merit, artist-in-residence Sara Cochran said.

“Everyone can tell you about the view,” Cochran said. “It is absolutely inspiring.”

Almost three months to the day after first approaching Burns about purchasing the studio, they moved into their new location.

“A lot of people helped us, family, friends and other potters,” Jones said. “We would have never made it in that amount of time without all that help.”

Though no longer the owner of Natchez Clay, Burns — who maintains a studio on Franklin Street — will continue to teach classes at the studio.

Kids Clay Camp — for which a few spots are still available — is the last week of July, and adult classes for beginners and advanced potters will begin in the fall.

The studio will also continue to do the humanitarian fundraisers it has participated in in the last few years — the Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Stewpot, for example.

With the move, the studio was able to get some new equipment and will be able to offer more classes.

“It’s going to be the same, but better,” Jones said.

Natchez Clay can be contacted by phone at 601-660-2375 or by e-mail at NatchezClay@gmail.com.