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Clay To Go

ClayToGo and the ClayMobile

The ClayMobile is a mobile clay studio, to take the experience and delight of working with clay out on the road. The colorful 15-foot truck carries all the basic materials and tools needed for the following ClayToGo activities, all at your facility. All activities are taught by professional artists.

Visit Priceless Picks by MasterCard to view the online video about the ClayMobile.

Wheel Demonstrations

An engaging and immediate way to convey the rewards of clay as an art medium, as an artist turns wet lumps of clay into beautiful pots
Designed as a short introduction to the raw materials and firing methods needed to make clay pots, that fits easily into limited time periods

Clay Events

Short (2- to 3-hour) hands-on introduction to the rewards of making art
- Learn basic handbuilding and glazing techniques
- Make mugs, bowls, plates, vases, treasure boxes, whistles, animal sculptures, or birdhouses – or objects not yet dreamed of. (Projects take into consideration age, ability, and interest.)

Artist Residencies

Long-term, multi-week (from 3 to 6 weeks) residencies in schools and other organizations with up to 300 students or other participants; each residency designed in cooperation with the residency site to meet its particular needs.
May be multi-disciplinary, linking clay classes to curricula in other subject areas (math, science, social studies, etc.), and can supplement existing art classes
Usually include in-service training sessions for teachers to learn how clay can be used to teach academic ideas, and a tour of the Clay Center during the residency (if within time and budget constraints)
Provide opportunities for children to learn an accessible and rewarding art form; successful residency experiences can have a positive effect on children’s performance in other areas

Scheduling and Prices

For more information about scheduling and prices for various activities, please call 612.339.8007.

A Typical School Outreach Residency

(assumes up to 200 students or 8 classes of 25)

5 contact hours per class over a 4 – 6-week period, in which students create one to two small projects and learn basic handbuilding and glazing techniques
2 – 3-hour in-service training session for participating faculty and parent volunteers
Student and faculty tour of the Clay Center, to see the exhibition and sales galleries, artists’ studios, kiln and classroom areas, and a potter’s wheel demonstration

Upon completion of the residency, selected students receive a complimentary scholarship for one of the Center’s summer clay camps.

Partners

Typically, a parent volunteer or school representative contacts the Clay Center about our ClayToGo program. If the outreach schedule and availability of funding permit, the residency begins to take shape.

The school is responsible for providing the following:

A minimum of 2 contact people at the school; a faculty member, principal or maintenance person are all recommended
A residency schedule for each of the participating classes
Assistance with the specific design of the project
Parent volunteers and faculty to be present for each hour of the residency
Scheduling of field trip and busses to the Clay Center

Space needs:

A central location for the residency
Tables or flat surface and seating for each student
Access to water for clean-up
Storage for in-progress projects (typically 200); the ClayMobile carts measure 32"x62" and 25"x65"x41"
Handicap access to both the building and central location

NCC provides:

All clay, glazes, tools, and firing facilities
Assistance with project development and scheduling
Transportation of all materials, equipment and projects to and from the school
A qualified instructor who is also a professional artist

Fees

Residency fees depend on the type of project selected, the number of student participants, and the length and location of the residency.

Total cost of a typical school outreach residency is $4,000
The cost of a typical residency to the participating school is between $100 to $2,000
The Clay Center will work with schools to raise funds to help subsidize costs

Thanks To ClayToGo Funders

Anonymous
Arts in Education, Minnesota State Arts Board
COMPAS Medtronic Arts Access Fund
General Mills Foundation
Greystone Foundation
Ken Olson Memorial Fund
Larsen Fund
Mithun Family Foundation
Perpich Center's Arts & Schools as Partners
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
3M Foundation

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature. In addition, this activity is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.