Creative Clay Partnerships

Creative Clay is dedicated to the advocacy of people with disabilities, working to create and maintain partnerships throughout the community that lift and support our member artists by providing connection, purpose and opportunities for volunteerism. Listed below are our current partnerships and a brief history.

Creative Clay’s connection with Sparks began when longtime supporter and former member of Creative Clay's Creative Care Arts in Healthcare team, and Sparks participant Paula Kramer introduced playwright Sheila Cowley to Creative Clay. Since the first performance of Airlift in September of 2019, Creative Clay has collaborated with Sparks on over a dozen projects of all sorts. With several performances, illustrated books, and colorful teleplays, plus new projects on the horizon the partnership is blossoming with every passing day. MORE HERE!

The Creative Clay Transition Program for ESE students is a partnership with Pinellas County Schools (PCS) to provide vocational arts training for 18–22 year olds with disabilities. Started in 2008, the program focuses on the transition from the school environment to post-secondary education that includes the goals of independent living and employment readiness. Creative Clay Transition’s vocational training consists of lessons in art fundamentals, sales, marketing, customer relations, running sales, and the over-all business of being an artist. Student artists work with professional teaching artists five days per week in a variety of media, including illustration, painting, ceramics, mixed media, music, and performance.

Since 2010, the St. Petersburg Museum of History and Creative Clay have partnered on several projects. From 2010-2021 the museum exhibited the artwork of the children in Creative Clay’s inclusive summer camp with new exhibits weekly throughout the summers. In addition, Creative Clay’s member artists from the Community Arts Program had an exhibit of Egyptian artwork which first was exhibited in the Egyptian Room, and then later in the Flight One Gallery at the museum. Over the years, the museum has also participated in hosting an Artlink—both our Artlink Apprenticeship Program (2011) as well as our partnership Artlink Takamatsu-St. Petersburg. The latter was in conjunction with the City of St. Petersburg and Takamatsu’s sister city 60th Anniversary Celebration involving an exhibition of Pelican paintings created by artists in Takamatsu and in St. Petersburg (2021-present) and The Lion Dance Performance in January of 2022. Thank you, St. Petersburg Museum of History!

Deana Hawk and Greg Bauman of Black Crow Coffee Co. have partnered with Creative Clay since 2018. Creative Clay was invited to install had a huge exhibit featuring 40 Creative Clay Member Artists in their Old Northeast location at 722 2nd Street N in St. Petersburg. In 2019, Black Crow offered to provide Creative Clay with the Black Crow Coffee Roasters private coffee label, called Good Folk Coffee. Over the past decade, Deana and Greg have donated hundreds of bags of coffee to Creative Clay to sell at our Good Folk Gallery. They have also attended and served their coffee at many Creative Clay events over the past decade. In January of 2019, Teaching Artist Todd Frain and several member artists created a small mural at Black Crow’s Grand Central District location at 2157 1st Avenue South, just two blocks from Creative Clay.

Heart Artlink Takamatsu-St. Petersburg—Since 2003, this iteration of Artlink has paired professional artists and artists with disabilities from Takamatsu, Japan and St. Petersburg, Florida. In 2021-22 the agencies worked together on a two-phase project featuring art exhibitions and dance performances to honor our sister cities 60th Anniversary. Performances and exhibits were featured at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. The partnership is still going strong. Thank you, Heart Art Link!

Since 2014, the St. Petersburg Opera Company and Creative Clay have partnered on an exhibit each year at the opera’s “Il Passaggio,” adjacent to the Mirella Cimato Gallery. Artists from Creative Clay attend rehearsals of the current opera and sketch as they watch. They return from the studio to create their paintings. Creative Clay has exhibited artwork for the following productions: West Side Story, South Pacific, Music Man, Pinocchio, Fidelio, Turandot, Samson and Delilah and Carmen. Thank you, St. Pete Opera Company!

Since early 2024, the St. Pete Beach Library and Creative Clay have shared a wonderful partnership. Creative Clay Teaching Artists and Member Artists have been hosting a monthly "Draw-Sketch-Color Inclusive Art Hour with Creative Clay" at the library. This monthly event invites the public to create art alongside our member artists every fourth Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Creative Clay aslo presents ”Dewey Discoveries Exhibits,” where member artists create works inspired by quarterly themes from the Dewey Decimal System. Thank you, St. Pete Beach Public Library!

The Dalí partnership began in 2022, when Creative Clay member artists' Dali inspired art was printed on note cards that sell in The Dalí Museum Store. Seven pieces were picked and are for sale at the Museum Store. Artists featured include Ivy Jenkins, Shasta Gordon, Sydney Ray, Diana N., and Suna M. In addition, The Dalí also waives admission every other month for Creative Clay’s artists to enjoy the museum. Thank you, The Dalí!

Since 2022, the Sunshine Center of St. Petersburg Senior Center has welcomed artists participate in events such as karaoke and bingo bringing joy to the folks who come regularly, benefiting our artists and seniors creating community and inclusion. Member artists visit twice a week and look forward to their time there immensely. Thank you, City of St. Petersburg Sunshine Center!

The St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts welcomed Creative Clay’s artwork into their museum store in 2014. There was a pause on the store in 2020, due to Covid, but Creative Clay’s artwork is back in the Museum Store again. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts Museum Store and find us! In addition to exhibiting our artwork and merch, the Museum of Fine Arts also waives admission for our artists to enjoy their exhibits once per month. Thank you, St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts and Museum Store!

Since 2019, Creative Clay has been creating the staff appreciation finger puppets for Raymond James’ Marketing Department thanks to Creative Clay friends Michael and Gina White, who initiated the project. Each quarter, Raymond James’ Marketing Department awards four staff with a gift of appreciation handmade by Creative Clay Member Artists. The finger puppets come with a bio of the artist who has created the puppet. During Covid lock-down, the Creative Clay Connects Zoom classes worked together and divided up photos of the RJ team to create wonderful portraits of each of the staff. It was a wonderful opportunity to stay connected to the community! Thank you, Raymond James Marketing!

July 2022, The Tampa Museum of Art began an Art Space program. Through the Art Space program, Creative Clay Member Artists visit the museum, where Renée Buono, the Outreach Programs Coordinator, provides a tour and an art activity. Renée also regularly visits our studio, where she leads art activities for Creative Clay Member Artists.

In 2018, George Baxter made initial introductions to the Sunken Gardens staff and Creative Clay began monthly visits to walk and sketch the gardens. It is a favorite outing for Creative Clay’s member artists. Thank you, Sunken Gardens!

Sabal Palms Health & Rehabilitation Center of Palms of Largo and Creative Clay have partnered since early 2020 (with a 18 month hiatus due to Covid) in creating community through art. Each month, teaching artists and member artists from Creative Clay volunteer to provide our Creative Care Outreach Program, offering community through art-making together.

Since 2022, Vertical Ventures has provided free use of their rock climbing gym to Creative Clay Member Artists. Every week, our artists get the chance to visit and work out in their incredible space, and it has been such a boost for both their physical and mental well-being. Staying active is such an important part of living a balanced life, and Vertical Ventures provides the perfect environment for our artists to challenge themselves, grow, and have fun! Thank you, Vertical Ventures!

The Off-Central is an intimate theater, gallery, and performance venue in the heart of  St. Petersburg's vibrant Grand Central District located at 2260 1st Avenue South. Since 2023, Off-Central has hosted Creative Clay for several art exhibits as well as the Creative Clay Transition Program’s Art Finale at the theatre. In 2023, Off-Central sent an instructor to work with the student artists on improvisation and other acting techniques. Thank you, the Off-Central!

The Florida Unique Abilities Partner Program was originally established as a way to recognize, designate, and support businesses that display a demonstrated commitment to employing individuals with unique abilities. This focus has spurred opportunities and results for Floridians with unique abilities to achieve their goals and drive greater independence, community engagement, and much more! In return, entities participating in the program are met with enriched workplace cultures, operational efficiencies, and a strengthening of their overall bottom line.

Arts Axis Florida is a free online site to promote non-profit arts organizations and local artists in the Greater Tampa Bay Region. It is a mutually beneficial initiative that brings awareness to arts organizations and Arts Axis Florida. Click the logo to check out the Arts Axis Florida Creative Clay page, filled with photos, videos and more. Thank you, Arts Axis Florida!

The Sand Dollar Scavenger Hunt is a collaboration between the EDGE Business District Association and Creative Clay to increase awareness of our amazing brick & mortar businesses in the EDGE District and bring attention to the fantastic artists and community focus of Creative Clay. Sand Dollars were painted by Creative Clay Member Artists Alex Azirpe, Ashton T., and Christopher Joseph.The Sand Dollar Hunt is free with games and participating businesses changing over time. Participating Businesses: 1st Ave. Liquors, Ashe Couture Boutique, Bavaro's, Big Frog, CASA Thrift Shop, Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill, Flagship Bank, Grassroots Kava, Green Bench Brewing Co., Hawkers Asian Street Food, Kalamazoo Olive, Mint House, Poppo's Taqueria, Red Mesa Mercado, Sans Market, Sourdough Co., The Fashion Spot, and Zubrick Magic Theatre.

Since 2017, Big Frog T-shirts and More have been a wonderful partner. Big Frog printed all of the summer camp shirts from 2017-2021 at a deep discount. They have also hosted an On-the-Job training opportunity for one of Creative Clay’s Artlink artists. In addition, they are one of our t-shirt printing activity partners for ArtWalk, where they donated over 30 shirts and printed designs at no cost. Big Frog is one of the 10 Make & Take activities at Good Folk Fest 2025. Thank you, Sean Mulligan!

From Classic to Contemporary, ARTicles specializes in concierge art consulting services to help customers create a space unique to them. ARTicles Gallery & Fine Art Services has been a partner with Creative Clay since 2007. They have sponsored Creative Clay programming and events every year since then. Frequently Leslie Curran sends over piles of pristine mat board and beautiful frames to Creative Thrift at Creative Clay. Many Creative Thrift followers can’t stay away from the store, hoping to find one of the ARTicles treasures! Thank you, Leslie Curran!

Imagine Museum’s Mission is to elevate American and International contemporary glass art and artists through exhibitions, education and research. Since 2023, Imagine Museum has offered a free monthly visit for Creative Clay Member Artists. Thank you, Imagine Museum!

First Night St. Pete and Creative Clay partnered from 2013-2023. Creative Clay provided arts activities in the children’s area. In 2021, Member Artist Aaron Fraser’s painting of the “Skyway Bridge at Night” was selected as First Night’s poster and button design. Thank you Allen Loyd and Jamie McWade for including Creative Clay!

Beginning in 2024, Creative Clay Teaching Artists and Member Artists have volunteered to run free art workshops called “Little Wonder Wednesdays” on a quarterly basis at Tyrone Square Mall. The pre-school aged children work with Creative Clay artists to do a variety of fun arts & crafts.

The Impossible Dream, a universally accessible catamaran, is dedicated to engaging the global community to raise awareness to barrier-free design and to inspire people with disabilities, wounded soldiers, disadvantaged youth, and their families to improve their independence and quality of life. Thank you, Impossible Dream, for including Creative Clay!

Morean Art Center’s Chihuly Collection is a stunning, permanent collection of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s unique artwork. This presentation is unique as it is the first installation of Chihuly art in a building designed specifically for that purpose. Designed so that the art and architecture work together to create a visitor experience unlike any other exhibition of Chihuly’s art. The Morean have welcomed Creative Clay Member Artists to visit once per month free of charge. Thank you, Morean and The Chihuly Collection!

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art provides experiences that inspire human connection and transformation through art depicting the peoples, landscapes, and history of the American West, and wildlife of the world. More than 400 premier works of art including sculpture, paintings and jewelry are on display in the museum’s 26,000 square feet of gallery space. Since 2018, the James Museum has welcomed Creative Clay Member Artists to visit once per month free of charge. Thank you, James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art!

The mission at the Dunedin Fine Art Center is to enrich lives through educational experiences in the visual arts. In 2023, Creative Clay partnered with the DFAC to host their Just Imagine art workshops for artists with disabilities in the Dunedin area. Although this program is no longer hosted by Creative Clay, the DFAC carries Creative Clay’s artwork and greeting cards in its museum shop and has selected several member artists to exhibit in their shows.

Florida CraftArt (FCA) is a member-supported, statewide nonprofit organization headquartered in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg’s art and culture district. Fine craft art by more than 220 Florida artists is presented in the 2,500-square-foot Florida Artists Gallery and in the adjacent Exhibition Gallery, which features curated exhibitions and programming. Fine craft techniques are ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, sculpture, and wood. Florida CraftArt was the first gallery to exhibit Creative Clay’s very first Artlink exhibit in 2003. Ever since then, Florida CraftArt has been a partner, exhibiting Creative Clay Member Artist Artwork in their store. In 2023, Creative Clay Member Artist Marquise Russ’s artwork was awarded 2nd place in their Member’s Show.

Make Studio is a community-based art studio and gallery in Baltimore, MD, empowering artists with disabilities to grow professionally and connect through art. In spring 2023, Make Studio invited Creative Clay to participate in their annual exhibition, "Cordially Invited," which highlights thought-provoking artwork from progressive art studios worldwide, fostering appreciation for neurodiversity. Creative Clay was also invited to the "Mutual Admiration Society," co-presented by Make Studio and Art Enables, where artists from progressive programs and visiting artists share appreciations and observations about each other's work. In 2024, Creative Clay again participated in both events and looks forward to continued collaboration with Make Studio and other progressive art studios globally.

Creative Clay is a proud member of the following organizations and districts.

Creative Clay appreciates our wonderful community partners. Please reach out to us at admin@creativeclay.org if you see a missing partner! Thank you!