creative clay programs
ABOUT: The Community Arts Program serves adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. This arts program provides professional artist mentorship for enrolled member artists in the performing and visual arts in a vibrant studio environment. Visual artwork created may be selected to be exhibited in Creative Clay’s on site Good Folk Gallery. When artwork is sold, member artists earn a 50% commission. Artwork may also be selected for Creative Clay’s Arts in Offices leasing program or to travel to other community arts partners for exhibition. Depending on the goals the member artists set for themselves, they may have the opportunity to visit local galleries, museums and other cultural venues to expand on their studio experience.
COST: Creative Clay accepts applicants receiving Medicaid Waiver LSD3 (1:10) and LSD1 (1:3) funding. Non-Medicaid Waiver applicants may choose to private pay at $65 per day. Limited scholarships are available for those who qualify.
HOURS OF OPERATION: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., M–F
REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be 18 or older and able to toilet, eat independently, and have an interest in the arts to be considered for the program. We take every precaution to ensure that Creative Clay is a safe environment for member artists and staff members. Aggressive and violent behaviors will not be tolerated and may result in expulsion from the program. Although all staff are trained in CPR and First Aid, Creative Clay is not staffed with medical personnel and cannot administer medication or provide medical interventions. All participants who have medical conditions must be able to attend to their needs independently in order to safely participate in Creative Clay’s programs.
ABOUT: 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. They have the opportunity to submit their artwork for exhibition to Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery open to the public daily, as well as Art Market from September through May (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Second Saturday ArtWalk (5-9 p.m.). Students also visit local galleries and museums to learn about art history and contemporary artwork, enhancing the classroom studio experience. Student artists also have the option to apply for internships to work in the Creative Clay Good Folk Gallery, Creative Thrift, and Community Arts Studio.
COST: Must be a currently-enrolled Pinellas County School student.
HOURS OF OPERATION: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., M–F
ABOUT: Creative Clay offers four categories of employment services within the Artlink program: Professional Artist Apprenticeships, Community Employment On-the-Job Training, Creative Clay Internships and Job-readiness Training. This program is for artists who wish to hone their careers in the arts or to hone their job skills through skill-building and independence through the arts.
Professional Artist Apprenticeship—Creative Clay’s Artlink Apprenticeship Program places promising student artists with professional artists in the local community. Artlink participants meet with their professional artist supervisors a minimum of four hours per week for three to six months. During these meetings, student-artists work alongside professional artists as they engage in artistic and business skills that are transferable to a variety of settings. Artist mentors pass on important business skills necessary for a successful career as a professional artist. At the conclusion of the apprenticeship, a selection of the works created during the training program will be included in an art exhibition held at a public museum, gallery, or other cultural venue in St. Petersburg, FL.
In 2018-19, the Artlink Apprenticeship program was made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts. Expectations for Artlink apprentices include: setting artistic goals, writing a project proposal and budget, creating an Apprenticeship Journal, creating artist statements/bio, attending gallery openings and events, creating a minimum of 5 art pieces in any medium, preparation of artwork for gallery submission, initiating and completing artwork submission process, networking, marketing, and community engagement.
Community Employment: On-the-job Training—The Artlink community employment program was created to help individuals with disabilities find meaningful employment in arts related positions, or within cultural organizations. Participants are chosen for further job development based on their mid-term evaluation and progress in the internship program. Selected students attend three potential job site visits and apply to their selected employment opportunity. Creative Clay supported employment staff continue to provide ongoing support to individuals placed in outside and track employment outcomes for 3 years.
Internships at Creative Clay: On-the-job Training—Creative Clay’s Artlink Internship Program is an arts-focused job training program that has three distinct areas, each with its own unique job description. These areas include Gallery Receptionist, Studio Assistant and Repurpose Store Attendant. Interns have an opportunity to participate in training in one or any combination of these three areas. Interns may work four hours per day and up to two days per week. Interns who qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation services are paid minimum wage.
Job-Readiness Training/Pre-employment Training—Participants learn soft skills, such as appropriate workplace attire, communication, and self-advocacy. Additionally, students learn to navigate public transportation, job-seeking strategies, resume development and how to complete job applications.
COST: Participants may be referred by Vocational Rehabilitation or be funded through grants, or donors, or sponsors. Paid apprenticeships only available if the participant is a Vocational Rehabilitation client and chooses Creative Clay referring agency.
These are Creative Clay’s current main programs offered. For more information on other programs, please check under PROGRAMS in the drop down menu at the top of the page.