To inspire and educate an inclusive community centered in clay.
Founded in 1966, Pottery Northwest is Seattle’s preeminent non-profit ceramics organization that promotes innovation, arts excellence, and education with a mission of fostering an inclusive community around clay.
Our nationally renowned ceramics studio offers vibrant programming to over 1,900 students a year. Artists from around the world come to Pottery Northwest in the spirit of artistic dialogue and as a formative step in their careers.
We believe clay is for everyone and are committed to creating intentional space for people to explore their creativity and personal growth regardless of the many socio-economic obstacles they may face. We offer need-based/sliding scale scholarships and a BIPOC community scholarship fund in order to foster more access to our ceramics programs.
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Creating Access
Our highest priority is creating and ensuring access to ceramics in a safe and welcoming environment. To this end, we offer over 50 classes and workshops a year, a robust scholarship program, and free public events focused on education and community building.
In 2023, we proudly supported BIPOC and low-income students with over $60K in scholarship awards - with more planned for 2024.
Additionally, our new Artist Market Subsidy Program allows members of our clay community who plan to sell their work in craft fairs or artist markets to apply for reimbursement for booth fees and rentals, reducing the financial strain for those just starting to sell their work.
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Promoting Innovation
Pottery Northwest’s Visiting Artists Program provides engaging educational opportunities for our clay community. Top-tier ceramicists are invited to our studio, providing our students with an opportunity to learn from a diverse group of talented artists through workshops, gallery talks, and exhibitions.
By bringing in a select group each year, Pottery Northwest provides a platform for ceramics excellence, discourse and innovation.
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Fostering Growth
Our Studio Apprenticeship Program is a one-year work exchange program providing exposure, instruction, and hands-on experience with all facets of ceramics studio management skills not taught in our classes. Participants learn studio maintenance and tech skills, gaining valuable work experience while benefiting from unlimited studio access to create work and explore new projects.
Pottery Northwest Apprentices have gone on to become studio technicians and managers, ceramics instructors, professional exhibiting ceramic artists, and have been accepted into competitive ceramics graduate programs.