I am writing today to inform everyone in our clay community that Pottery Northwest will be raising class prices starting with Fall registration.

As a participating member of the Pottery Northwest community, please follow these guidelines when engaging with anyone in our community. This includes, but is not limited to all Pottery Northwest staff, apprentices, artists in residence, instructors, students, studio users/members, and studio visitors.

I am writing to address the horrific attack on the LGBTQ+ community that occurred on November 20th, the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

This brutal attack has stolen the lives of five individuals with many more injured at the scene, renewing past traumas throughout LGBTQ+ communities the world over. Our hearts and condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims of this devastating act of violence and bigotry.

Pottery Northwest has appointed Shayla M. Alarie as Programs Director to help inspire new communities of all ages and cultural backgrounds into the world of ceramic arts. Alarie most recently served as Director of Education at the Kirkland Arts Center.

At Pottery Northwest, we believe that women’s rights are human rights, trans & nonbinary rights are human rights, and equal rights for all are foundational to a world where everyone can thrive as their authentic selves.

Pottery Northwest has named Ed King, an award-winning artist, marketer, and arts leader, as its next Executive Director. The Miami-native joins the 56-year-old organization at a pivotal moment. In addition to King’s appointment, Pottery Northwest is now unveiling its newly constructed facility in the Foster/White building in Pioneer Square—and re-thinking its entire operation through a lens of equity and antiracism. King replaces Interim Executive Director Caitlin Pontrella, a local nonprofit/arts leader.

Construction at Foster/White is complete and we are on track to reopen soon. Class registrations start this Friday—don’t miss it!

Thank you for joining us on Monday for our Town Hall, where we provided updates on the status of our relocation, our new studio features, upcoming programming, and opportunities to join our team. If you missed it, you can view the entire presentation here and we will highlight key information below

We are excited today announce the official start of our search and to be releasing our comprehensive leadership profile—built on the input and feedback collected from our board, staff, artists-in-residence, instructors, and community.

We are excited to share that our next home will be in Pioneer Square in the Foster/White Gallery building located at 220 Third Avenue South. Finding a location in a more diverse neighborhood was a priority as easy physical access to the pottery is a first step in inclusion and equity. Feedback from our community survey revealed the importance of having a location that is also easily accessible by transit. 

The last two years have put our organization and community to the test as we faced closures due to COVID-19, program changes, and inequity. We have been hard at work and are excited to finally be making a number of major announcements around critical internal projects, leadership, and our new facility location.

Pottery Northwest is committed to the safety and health of our neighbors, community, and staff. As we continue to monitor the dynamic situation of COVID 19, we are moving forward with cautious optimism and adjusting as necessary as we go along. Our goal is to be transparent with our expectations and to provide safe and continued access to clay, creativity, and community.

Staff and Board are kicking off our work with ChrisTiana ObeySumner of Epiphanies of Equity for continued assessment, training, and the development and implementation of a strategic plan to move us towards building a more inclusive and equitable arts organization.

A heartfelt thank you for your thoughtful responses to our Community Survey. We received over 500 responses(!) and are overwhelmed by your generous offers of time, skills, and support.