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.
Clay Studio After School Program
We recently expanded our After School Program with support of American Rescue Plan funding (ARPA). Working with the models of our prior ClayMania! and Clay Days programs, we created a comprehensive after school program that served 7 Missoula County Public Schools in 2022/23.
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Our After School Program provides K-12 grade students immersive experiences in the visual arts, improving their understanding of contemporary fine art and providing hands-on experiences in clay weekdays after school. Students learn from artists working in the ceramic field, who are equally committed to provide an exciting and educational experience in the classroom. Youth are given the chance to pursue intellectual stimulation through the arts during at-risk hours after school. Our program ensures they are in a healthy, safe environment while learning about visual art, the robust community around ceramics in Montana, and themselves as emotional creative beings. Students gain experiences the multicultural nature of ceramics and investigate the artwork of other cultures in artist-led projects.
To develop the most effective and accessible after school programming this past year, we collaborated with other Missoula area organizations. We partnered with the Flagship Program and Parks & Recreation to gain a platform directly within MCPS schools and with students in the highest need in our regional Title 1 Public Schools.
We will be continuing this program in 2023/24, thanks in part to support from The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Walmart Community Grants.
We are actively seeking additional support to continue and grow this impactful program! To learn more about the program, please contact Kelly Seitz (fire@theclaystudioofmissoula.org)
Missoula Food Bank,
Empty Bowls Full Souls
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
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.
Outreach Booth
A big part of our community outreach is our traveling booth! You'll find the Clay Studio of Missoula Outreach Booth at several events in Missoula throughout the summer, and occasional events throughout the year! We bring raw clay activities along with us to delight children and adults! This allows extra education and access beyond the studio walls, and helps spread the word about the studio and the programs we offer! All activities are free to participate in, with optional donation available
to help supply the booth, with any extra given to the Youth Scholarship Program.
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Though the outreach booth predominantly operates during the summer, events in the fall, winter, and spring can be arranged for special circumstances. If you have an event that serves a part of Missoula you think may be interested in the Clay Studio, email Kelly Seitz at least a month in advance to inquire if the outreach booth can be available to make an appearance. Please note, we've been short on volunteers as of late, so events depend on the availability of the education and outreach coordinator.
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If you or people you know would love to get their hands messy and teach clay to people in the community, sign up at the link below!