What started as a way to cope with stress has grown into a downtown Halifax pottery studio. At 25, Calista Desousa officially opened Beleza Ceramics on Saturday at 1892 Hollis St., marking the first permanent home for the business she launched two years ago. Desousa said she first turned to pottery while working as a personal trainer, using clay as a creative outlet to help manage her mental health. “I would come home and just look forward to playing with clay all the time,” she said. “It kind of happened organically and magically that now it’s my full-time job.” The business began in the social room of her apartment building, where she hosted pottery nights for groups of about 10 people. As demand grew, Desousa started renting temporary spaces for workshops, with events regularly selling out. She said opening a permanent studio was the natural next step. “It’s been three months of a lot of work,” she said. “You can come in and do pottery at any time. We offer wheel throwing, hand-building drop-ins, pottery painting and our pottery nights.” Finding calm through creating The studio also offers space for community events and workshops, something Desousa hopes to expand in the future by welcoming other artists and crafts into the space. She said much of the renovation work was completed by hand with help from family, friends and members of the community. “It was literally made by our hands,” she said. “There’s been a lot of work, a lot of love and time and effort and tears put into it as well.” Desousa believes there is a growing demand for activities that encourage people to disconnect from technology and slow down. “When we’re all on our phones and constantly on the go, our nervous systems are all crazy,” she said. “We need to be making more time for things that calm us down a little bit and take us out of that.” She said Halifax’s arts community has embraced the concept, with pottery nights consistently selling out over the past two years and positive feedback continuing since the studio began hosting events ahead of its official opening. Looking ahead, Desousa hopes to open additional locations but says the downtown Halifax studio will remain the flagship. “For now, we’re going to make this one the hub,” she said. ‘It’s everybody’s studio’ Among those attending the grand opening was longtime friend Summer Cromwell, who flew from Ontario for the event. Cromwell said she has watched Desousa build the business through determination and persistence. “She’s been through so much along the way, and she overcomes something and is so driven and does not quit,” she said. The two entrepreneurs regularly schedule weekly video calls to support one another through the challenges of running a business. “Entrepreneurship can be really lonely sometimes,” Cromwell said. “It’s been really cool to see her constantly see the glass half full.” Desousa said the studio belongs as much to the community as it does to her. “It’s not just my business. It’s not my studio,” she said. “It’s everybody’s studio. I wouldn’t have this without everybody in the community. I’m just really grateful for everyone in Halifax that’s been supporting small businesses and supporting me from the beginning.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
