Clay in Education

The OPA sponsors a "Clay in Education" program.  This program was created to provide clay instruction by professional potters in the community.  A portion of our annual dues provides partial funding for our projects.  The remainder comes from donated pottery for sale and our installation each year at Ceramic Showcase.  Our members create a clay piece based on a theme.  These are displayed and sold to the public with 100% of the funds going to the Clay In Education program.

OPA’s Clay in Education program supports higher education by donating funds and scholarships to the Scholastic Art Awards.  The Scholastic Art Awards are a national organization rewarding student achievement in grades 7-12. Established 82 years ago, the Awards are the largest, longest running, most prestigious student recognition program in America. They have encouraged more than 12 million student participants, recognized more than two million young artists and distributed more than $20 million in awards and scholarships. It is administered at the regional level by the Oregon Art Education Association and sponsored by art institutions such as PNCA, OCAC, and the OPA. Oliver Glenn, OPA’s first scholarship recipient, was featured on a recent OPB Artbeat  with his teacher and mentor, Steve Schiefelbein, and the outstanding ceramics program at Lake Oswego High School.  At the November, 2007 general membership meeting of the OPA our members voted to increase our support of the Scholast
ic Art Awards by sponsoring an additional $1000 scholarship for 2008.  This year OPA will once again provide $500 in operating expenses for the awards and two $1000 scholarships.

We also provide clay activities at Ceramic Showcase, Portland Arts Festival, and Art in the Pearl , three of the finest festival art venues in Portland .  Many of our members are also experienced teachers and participate in our artist residency program.  Artists are available to teach in any public, private, parochial, or non-profit community site.

Artist residencies are partially funded by OPA.  The Clay in Education program pays 50% of the artist's fee and the school or organization pays the additional 50% directly to the artist.  The artist's hourly wage is $40.00.  If you are a title one school, or an organization requesting additional funding, please include an explanatory letter with your application for a residency and increased funding.  Funding is not unlimited and therefore will be allocated on a first come first served basis with a maximum of 40 hours per site. Sites may contract for more hours with the artist and pay the entire $40 per hour.  Costs for consumable supplies for residencies are in additional to the program fees.  A contract is administered prior to the Clay in Education experience.  Residencies are available to offer an awareness of ceramic art forms and to introduce students to new skills, which can be applied to existing curriculum.  OPA ceramic artists are professionals with considerable experience and expertise.

FORMS:
Introduction (doc) (pdf)
Residency Application (doc) (pdf)
Residendy Planning Checklist (doc) (pdf)
Residency Site Evaluation Form (doc) (pdf)
Residency Artist Evaluation Form (doc) (pdf)

Barbara Hartel

Related Links:
El Salvador 2008
Scholarship
Residencies
Demonstrations
Community Outreach