Our Mission
District Clay Center strives to cultivate and promote the ceramic arts in the DMV region through quality education, exhibitions, and an extensive array of studio equipment. Our clay community embraces creativity, diversity, inclusion, respect, and a welcoming environment for students and artists of all levels.
To this end, District Clay currently provides regular instruction and specialized workshops in wheel-throwing, hand-building, slip-casting, and alternative firings; a library of ceramic literature; a community artist program; community events, including semi-annual sales; and exhibitions by regional students and artists.
District Clay Center strives to cultivate and promote the ceramic arts in the DMV region through quality education, exhibitions, and an extensive array of studio equipment. Our clay community embraces creativity, diversity, inclusion, respect, and a welcoming environment for students and artists of all levels.
To this end, District Clay currently provides regular instruction and specialized workshops in wheel-throwing, hand-building, slip-casting, and alternative firings; a library of ceramic literature; a community artist program; community events, including semi-annual sales; and exhibitions by regional students and artists.
In February 2014, we opened in a 2,000 square foot studio in northeast DC, an area that had no clay classes. We had 4 teachers, 6 classes and 42 students. Within a year and a half, we had 145 students and had run out of space for student shelving. In August 2016, we got a chance to move into a 6,400 square foot space directly below our studio. We grabbed it. And as of that January, we had filled up again.
How did this all happen? It took a pottery village - or perhaps we created one.
We have only a few full-time staff, and the rest of the work is done by our Teachers and our Studio Techs who have given and given to make District Clay a success.
For me, that is the humbling lesson - that people really want to give and they want to create - and I think that is the main reason that District Clay has become a success.
SEIZE THE CLAY!
Cass Johnson
Executive Director
- We now have 25+ weekly classes, nearly 350 students, over 75 artists (with 24/7 access), a workshop program, regular gallery exhibits and a lecture program . . . and we have no room left. DC loves clay!
- Everything we buy and make is made in the US. From our kilns to our wheels to our clay, we source locally. (We also buy beer made in NE DC).
- We recycle all our clay. When a box of clay comes in, the only way it goes out is as a piece of pottery, hopefully one that someone is proud off. We also make all of our own glazes.
- We use 3,000 lbs of clay a month and our kilns turn out approximately 950 pots.
- We want to promote ceramic venues and events across the DC metro. Check out our listings of fellow studios, workshops and exhibitions by going here.
How did this all happen? It took a pottery village - or perhaps we created one.
We have only a few full-time staff, and the rest of the work is done by our Teachers and our Studio Techs who have given and given to make District Clay a success.
For me, that is the humbling lesson - that people really want to give and they want to create - and I think that is the main reason that District Clay has become a success.
SEIZE THE CLAY!
Cass Johnson
Executive Director
