A huge thank you to Brian Daggett of Kistler Tiffany Benefits for recommending one of his favorite charities for the BCA “Breakfast In The Evening” event. We’re so excited to have The Clay Studio as our special guests on November 19th. With guest speaker David Garibaldi it is suiting that we’ll be highlighting a charity dedicated to bringing art to the lives of youth in Philadelphia. Please remember to welcome our guests from The Clay Studio on Thursday, Nov. 19th at “Breakfast In The Evening” and make them feel right at home.
The Clay Studio was founded in 1974 by five artists in need of workspace, The Clay Studio was envisioned as a stepping stone for students fresh out of art school, offering affordable studio space and shared equipment. Soon The Clay Studio artists consciously shifted the Studio’s mission from an inward focus to an outward educational and community focus. It was the artists’ intention to affirm the importance of the ceramic arts alongside other art forms, and to make clay an accessible medium to a broad range of people. In 1979, the Studio became a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational institution.
The Clay Studio provides space, educational programs and exhibition access to a broad array of artists and residents. It is a vital part of the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, having taken a leadership role in the revitalization of the area through the development of its own multi-use arts building and the promotion of the Old City gallery district. The Clay Studio’s dedication to the region is evidenced by its program collaboration with area cultural institutions, artists, schools, and community centers. Its Claymobile program has become a local and national model for art educational outreach.
Since 1994, the Claymobile Van has been traversing Philadelphia streets bringing clay classes to schools, community-based organizations and social service organizations. Kathryn Narrow, the founder of the Claymobile, is a ceramic artist and was Managing Director at The Clay Studio from 1989 to 2006. As a former teacher of children’s courses at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Narrow recognized the opportunity for reaching children as well as adults through The Clay Studio’s educational programs. Since its inception, the program has evolved tremendously with the input of various artists and coordinators and has expanded its reach beyond the traditional classroom to populations including deaf students,children in the juvenile justice system, as well as formerly homeless and learning disabled adults. In 2005, The Clay Studio purchased a second van with the generous support of The Roy Pressman Foundation. The Claymobile continues to serve as a model for other arts organizations both locally and nationally wishing to start mobile arts programs.
Please join us in welcoming our guests from The Clay Studio to “Breakfast In The Evening”. We’re very much looking forward to getting to know them, and their mission better!
