Organization profile: Baltimore Clayworks

(CONTINUED)

Baltimore Clayworks opened its doors in 1980. It was conceived by nine ceramic artists in 1978 as a studio where artists, students and the public could interact and learn about the ceramic arts. Clayworks now houses artists' studios, classrooms, exhibition galleries, meeting space and offices in two historic buildings in the Mt. Washington section of Baltimore City.

The center also includes five fuel-burning kilns, 11 electric kilns, 40 potters' wheels, a glazing lab and other specialty equipment for clay artists. In addition to 13 resident artists and 30 member/exhibiting artists, Clayworks is run by 27 board members, 100 volunteers and a staff of 12.

During the early years of its effort to provide arts instruction in communities, Clayworks staff and artists conducted a variety of after-school programs in partnership with other organizations at the sites of these partners' facilities or in schools. Many of the partnerships continue today. Clayworks also operates "satellite" studio facilities dedicated to clay, in inner-city neighborhoods.

"Baltimore Clayworks positions itself as having two hands that work in partnership," wrote Deborah Bedwell, founding director of the arts center, in an online article for the Community Arts Network. "One hand consists of a network of nationally known artists/teachers to whom we provide affordable studio and exhibition space and opportunities for career development."

"The other hand of Clayworks holds the broad and diverse communities of Baltimore City's youth, families and senior adults who participate in classes and programs taught by Clayworks artists/teachers," Bedwell wrote. "The hands work in concert, creating an advantage to the working artists, those whom they teach, and the Greater Baltimore community as a whole."

Clayworks artists and staff teach approximately 300 adults and children each week. The center is open Monday through Saturday.