Approximately 30% of participants at Artspace Greenfield qualify for state-recognized financial aid, yet the program that grants them access — the Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program, offering up to 50% discounts to those who qualify for EBT, WIC, Sun Bucks and other government assistance programs —comes with a catch: it provides the rubric for discounts, but none of the funding.
In hopes of raising $10,000 to support its financial aid programs, the Mill Street studio is inviting the community to a “paint-a-pot, throw-a-thon, and seconds sale” this weekend to turn local art into a sustainable resource for all. The “Clay It Forward” fundraiser will be held on April 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“All the money raised throughout the day is going toward our financial aid program,” Artspace Director Madeline Miller said. “Thirty percent of our clay students are qualified for and receive financial aid, which is amazing because our dream for this studio has been to make ceramic art more accessible, geographically, but financially as well.”
Miller said the state provides rubrics for community members to self-assess whether they qualify for financial aid or not, but the state does not provide funding for the aid.
“It’s a state program, but it’s not funded by the state,” Miller said. “It will add up to about $10,000 a year for Artspace, at a minimum. So our goal for the 12th is to raise half of that.”
Throughout the day, there will be three different activities for people to enjoy: the seconds sale, featuring donated works that are either surplus or have minor imperfections; free wheel-throwing hours sponsored by local businesses, where people can learn how professional potters work the wheel; and “Paint to Pitch In,” where participants can decorate pieces made by volunteer potters.
“How it will work is people will come to the event and all the pots will be sorted into the donation amounts, and they will all be fired to the bisque stage. We’ll give everybody a little painter’s palette of underglaze with 12 different colors to choose from and they can decorate the pots themselves,” Miller said. “And then they’ll leave them here with us and we will clear glaze and fire them all a second time so they’ll be finished and then people can come pick them up in time for Mother’s Day.”
Miller said the ceramic options will range from $1 to $100. Additionally, people can donate directly to the financial aid fundraiser at artspacegreenfield.org
In mid-March, Artspace staff and volunteers gathered in the clay studio for a makeathon. Approximately 15 potters produced more than 200 items — including plates, bowls and pots — that will be available for painting during the fundraiser.”
Participating artists said the weekend clay session was a great way for them to enjoy community and camaraderie with other potters — which can at times be a solitary process — while also giving back to the community.
“Coming out to hang with other potters and the social aspect of it really intrigued me,” Issac Bingham said. “And then giving back to the program.”
Tom White said Artspace is a great place for people to be introduced to clay, and he’s happy to support the program.
“People tend to come to my shop and ask for lessons, and now I have somewhere to send them,” White said. “They do a great job and they’re growing and you see enthusiasm in the classes.”
“I think it’s going to be a really fun day and hopefully raise a bunch of money that we can give back to the community in the form of financial aid,” Miller said.
The financial aid can be applied to any of Artspace’s programs. The studio hosts an After School Art Program for teens on Thursdays, ceramic handbuilding and wheel-throwing classes for different age groups, and intergenerational lessons. In addition to the weekly and monthly classes, Artspace offers special one-off programs, such as watercolor and printmaking workshops. Sign-ups for the next block of weekly classes open in May.
Miller said financial aid has made it possible for people of all ages to explore clay, and for people who have not touched clay in years to return to the medium.
“It really does take a village to make it possible for some of these kiddos to come and try it out and then keep coming,” Miller said. “It’s turning out to be a really good community resource, and we’re really proud of what we have been able to do, and are really excited to keep going and get more people into this art form.”
