Outreach
The Clay Studio of Missoula offers community programming throughout the year to increase art access for all. This includes monthly gallery openings, a free-of-charge activities booth for clay exploration at local events, seasonal open house events, and partnerships with local organizations, schools, and programs, including The Flagship Program, The Missoula Food Bank, and SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning. Tours of the studio facility are also available to anyone curious about clay.
Flagship, Claymania!
The Flagship Program provides afterschool opportunities for students in eight Missoula County Public Schools in grades K-12. Under the umbrella of Western Montana Mental Health Center, Flagship offers students a school-based program in mentoring and skill building. Flagship is free of charge to all participants and families. Since 2012, The Clay Studio of Missoula has served Lowell Elementary School’s Flagship after-school program students with ongoing weekly classes for grades K-5. These Claymania! sessions provide a needed opportunity for children with little arts education available during school hours. For many parents, these sessions also provide activities for their children during the time between school dismissal and the completion of a 9-5 work shift.
Missoula Food Bank, Empty Bowls Full Souls Fundraiser
The Clay Studio of Missoula assists with The Missoula Food Bank’s annual “Empty Bowls, Full Souls” fundraiser. Guests to the fundraising dinner choose a handmade bowl with which to eat a simple meal together. The purpose is to raise awareness on food insecurity in our community. The Clay Studio hosts free bowl making and glazing activities ahead of this event. Over 150 bowls are handcrafted and donated every year by Clay Studio of Missoula artists and the local clay community.
SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning, Teaching Organization
SPARK! is a community wide partnership working to expand arts programming in Missoula County Public Schools. We facilitate and foster connections between district schools, local arts organizations, and teaching artists helping to ensure access to the arts for all Missoula County Public School students. The Clay Studio of Missoula is a teaching organization that is available to collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate arts into their curriculum.