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Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts Education
Mission: To promote educational and charitable activities for ceramic arts and pottery. To establish community oriented art programs and workshops which encourage community interest in the arts.
Programs: Adult and youth classes:clay art center (the center) presents classes ranging in experience level from beginner to advance in wheel throwing, pottery, sculpture, and hand building. The classes are available to adults and children and serve the westchester and connecticut communities. The center offers after-school and weekend children's classes as well as morning, afternoon, and full-day classes in the summer. The center also offers open studio hours to students who are enrolled in weekly classes. The open studio hours give students the opportunity to work on their projects outside of class time and to develop their artistic skills. (see schedule o)workshops:to further enhance educational programming, clay art center (the center) presents monthly workshops by nationally-known artists. Varying in length from one to five days, they are a unique opportunity for students to learn and be inspired by teachers and working artists. The center offers a workshop geared towards k-12 teachers who are eager to learn how to incorporate ceramics into their curriculum. Residency program:the artist-in residency program begins each september and is awarded annually to two bachelor and masters of fine arts (bfa/mfa) graduates. It is designed for emerging artists who need time and space to develop their voice. They gain invaluable experience teaching classes and contribute their technical knowledge and expertise by managing many jobs at the studio. Residents receive private studio space, full access to the studios facilities and a show in the gallery at the end of the residency.
studio artist program:the center offers access to private and shared studio space for artists to continue working in a community setting. Associate artists have access to glazing and firing facilities. The artists, once juried in by a peer artist committee, play a significant role in sharing responsibilities and being part of a vibrant community. The center studios are a place where creativity and community spirit flourishes. All artists must demonstrate their commitment to assist with the educational programs and other studio chores. The studios are well-equipped with electric wheels, extruders, slab rollers, pug mills, electric and gas kilns and a common, well-stocked glaze area. Each artist has unlimited access to the center facilities.
exhibitions:the focus of the gallery is dedicated to exhibiting ceramics; to showcase the work of emerging and under-recognized mid-career and mature artists. Annually there are juried solo and group invitational exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. The shop at the center highlights hand-made pottery and objects for the home by the center artists and invited guests from across the country. The annual clay art center artist holiday show has become known as the showcase for handmade ceramics in the county, while the "rising stars" annual student exhibition features talent from the educational programs.