Clay Studio

Programs: Claymobile, our mobile community engagement program, brings a "pop-up" ceramics studio to schools, neighborhood organizations, and other social service agencies throughout the philadelphia region. Our professional teaching artists provide arts education opportunities that use the tactile medium of clay to nurture imagination, critical thinking, and persistence. Many children and adults in the philadelphia region lack access to arts experiences in their schools and neighborhoods due to budget constraints, a focus on achievement testing, and the stressors of poverty. 90% of claymobile residencies partner with sites that serve at least 75% of students with economic need. Our goal is to do our part to close the opportunity and quality of education gap that our underserved neighbors experience. Together, we are a force for good.

the gallery and exhibitions program at the clay studio showcases the work of local, national, and international ceramic artists through approximately 30 exhibitions each year. The gallery is a leader in contemporary ceramics, engaging audiences with relevant programming and catalog publishing, while also providing opportunities for emerging artists through multiple open call juried exhibitions. With the traffic from public events, the school studio, and the shop, the gallery and exhibitions program aims to challenge and raise the level of artistic experiences for our audiences, which range from professional artists, to collectors, to beginners experiencing ceramics in a gallery context for the first time.

the clay studio school provides a variety of ceramic courses covering all the bases of technique and specialties. This includes wheel-throwing, hand-building, surface decoration, sculpture, glaze formulation, mold making, etc. Most courses are available during daytime and evening sessions, and include a range of experience levels from absolute beginner, intermediate, to artists who utilize self-instructed open studio time. We also feature one-day workshops, family workshops, summer clay camps, and friday night date nights, all serving over 4,000 adults and youth a year. Approximately one-third of our students are advanced level artists and nearly all of our instructors hold masters degrees (mfa) and many of our classes are available for continuing education credit for local teachers. We create an inclusive and supportive studio environment where artists of all ages and experience levels can learn and experiment.

other programs - artists-in-residence, fellowships, associates program, lecture series, guest resident