Gauging interest in a community clay studio in the Duluth area

communityclaystudio Jul 16, 2015 4 Comments

Duluth needs a community ceramics studio, and we need your input to start making this happen. You can help by filling out this seven-question survey. It will take less than three minutes and will provide invaluable information to get our pelotes rolling. We know nobody gets that reference but it stays. You can totally look it up.

We encourage you to complete the survey regardless of your interest in ceramics. Thanks much!

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4 Comments

Ann Klefstad

about 9 years ago 

Is there no studio at the Duluth Art Institute's Lincoln Building anymore? Or is that one full up?

M Wick

about 9 years ago 

Thanks for the comment! The DAI does offer studios for rent and classes. However, they don't have open studio time and renting a studio isn't necessarily affordable for a hobby ceramist. There's also a waiting list for renting studio space. 

A little more background on this concept: We want to create a place where people who don't have a background in ceramics can get started and take the hobby as far as they want to take it. Through a membership program, we want to provide resources and an open member space for people to use. This will appeal to people who do ceramics as a hobby and wouldn't necessarily want to make the financial or time commitments to renting a studio. 

We also want to also offer classes in a diverse range of ceramics topics so that people can continue developing their skills as far as they want to. Classes will be offered for a range of skill levels and would address different techniques such as throwing on the wheel, hand building, talavera, wood firing, sculpture, making local clay shino, etc.  

Affordability and accessibility to all is very important to us. Members can do ceramics as a hobby, or even use this as a stepping stone to developing a career in the field.  We believe that having a place like this would help get the word out about the fun of ceramics and would provide added benefit to the community's existing resources.   

The main difference between this concept and the DAI is that we would offer open studio space to members regardless if they're taking a class; while at the DAI , you either have to be a student or rent studio space to have access. 

We're currently working on our business plan, and assessing the market. We would love to hear any suggestions or needs of the community. Please fill out our survey!!

adugan

about 9 years ago 

Hi M Wick! Anne Dugan here from the Duluth Art Institute. I'd love to talk to you to see how the DAI might collaborate on your efforts. 

[email protected] or 218-733-7562 office / 218-310-4703 cell

We're trying to figure out how to maximize the fabulous asset we have with the current DAI studio and would hate to see efforts duplicated. Thanks!

Miranda Durbin

about 9 years ago 

Hi!  This is Miranda Durbin from the Duluth MakerSpace. We currently have a space for pottery available along with a kiln, a pug mill, a couple electric wheels and a lot of random supplies, including clay and glazes. We would love to work with you as we finish the space. We will offer classes and allow members to use the space once we complete the set up and find knowledgeable people.

We would be excited to work with you so please contact us at [email protected].

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