Next up in our Small Business Inspirational Series is Wendy Weinstein, Development Director at Clay Art Center, a 501c3 non-profit for people to create, connect, and be inspired through the advancement and practice of ceramic art in Port Chester, New York. Wendy shares how the challenges poised by COVID-19 brought about incredible transformation and resilience for the art center and the community.
"Founded in 1957 as an artist collective, focusing on ceramic arts, we became a non-profit in 2007 in order to better serve the public, the community, and our artists. Clay Art Center is dedicated to providing opportunities for education, creativity, and community engagement in a diverse and inclusive space for studio practice, exhibitions, personal growth, and professional development. We have a vision to ignite a passion for clay and providing a nurturing community for that passion to flourish. Incorporated into our goals is a clear understanding of the impact of a strong EDIA policy, and ensuring that our facility and programs accessible to everyone .
As a non-profit, Clay Art Center routinely does not run with large operational income surpluses. At the beginning of 2020, we were ending a period of transition – our current Executive Director had just joined us in October 2019, and the staff and board were in a place to begin to move forward after the past Executive Director departed earlier that year after 12 years. A period of change and uncertainty was nearing its end, and we are excited about our plans to move forward and grow.
Great platform for moving forward, right? Then, March 2020 happened. COVID. Massive uncertainties. Were we shuttering for 2 weeks? Or closing forever? Fortunately, Clay Art Center had already adopted cloud storage and services so the staff could pivot to work remotely; a very unusual move for an organization that thrives on in person interactions and engagement. We quickly created online classes and programming. Mounted exhibitions online. Gathered classes in zoom calls both to engage and entertain our audience, and find ways to keep our students working with clay. We deepened and expanded our artist talks. Sold clay, tools, and provided “remote” firing for finished work off our loading dock. Engaged our artists in community zoom calls. And put out a call to donors to help sustain us through this period of uncertainty.
And it worked! Our audience responded and helped us transition to a virtual ceramics center. This gave us both the financial, and emotional, ability to survive and even thrive. We reintroduced limited in person classes in September 2020, and over time resumed normal operations. We also learned more about the impact and importance, not only of working with clay, but of Clay Art Center, to the public, our artists, students, and the overall ceramics community.
In 2024, demand for classes and programs is beyond capacity with lengthy wait lists. Staff is growing to meet the need, within the limited confines of our physical facility. Virtual programming is now a permanent fixture of Clay Art Center’s offerings. Our exhibitions are presented both online and in our gallery; supplemented by online-only special topic presentations, including focuses on Black History Month, Pride Month, Cancer Awareness Month and others. Online sales have quadrupled, becoming a significant portion of overall shop income.
We found a national audience in a way we had only dreamed of prior to 2020. This has given not only Clay Art Center, but the ceramic artists who call us home, and the emerging artists who spend a year working and studying in our spaces, increased visibility. Our exhibitions now give a greater voice to previously under-voiced artists, and are expanding the conversation around clay and art.
We would not wish a global pandemic on anyone. But Clay Art Center discovered that embracing today’s challenges sparks growth for tomorrow and beyond, leaving a lasting impact.”
-Wendy Weinstein
Thank you for sharing the transformational ways Clay Art Center embraced and thrived in the face of challenges. You are an inspiration!
🔗 Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn
💠 Learn more about Clay Art Center
🏺 Support Artists by Shopping at Clay Art Center
😊 Donate to support Clay Art Center
📍 For NY locals, get involved in activities!
Please share your thoughts, comments, questions, encouragements or congratulations with Wendy and the community below!