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Community based arts have the potential to transform lives. The mission of our Community Arts Program is to put clay into the hands of those who need it most and would not otherwise have access including the economically disadvantaged, underserved youth, seniors, and the developmentally disabled.
Through extensive outreach programming, we are able to offer a variety of classes and workshops in partnership with area schools, community centers, and non profit organizations.
Benefits from Working with Clay:
 Expose students to ceramic skills and vocabularyIncrease students’ self esteem
Increase students’ dexterity
Facilitate students’ creative means for self-expression
Encourage creativity and collaboration
Help students’ develop critical thinking skills
Beautify the community with finished ceramic work
Professional teaching artists lead the classes and facilitate students’ problem solving with clay while helping them develop critical thinking skills. Students will also be exposed to ceramic skills and vocabulary. They will learn that working with clay requires patience, self discipline, and dedication. Lastly, their ability to create and the experiences they have with clay will open their minds, expand their horizons and enhance their self-esteem.
Past and Present Partnerships
After School Programs
 Clay Art Center’s teaching artists had the unique opportunity to work with nearly 800 children enrolled in after school programs at elementary and Middle schools throughout Westchester. By offering clay enrichment during the after school hours we are able to quench the thirst of the budding young artists of our community and create meaningful, lasting pieces of art.
Greenacres Elementary- Scarsdale
Greenville Elementary- Scarsdale
Seely Place Elementary- Scarsdale
Kid’s B.A.S.E. - Scarsdale
Heathcote Elementary- Scarsdale
Quaker Ridge Elementary- Scarsdale
Edgewood Elementary- Scarsdale
BMP Ridge Street School- Rye
Rye YMCA- Rye
Midland- Rye
Don Bosco Community Center – Port Chester
PC Recreation Department– Port Chester
PC Middle School– Port Chester
King Street Elementary– Port Chester
JFK Magnet School– Port Chester
Park Avenue Elementary– Port Chester
Thomas Edison Elementary– Port Chester
The Port Chester Housing Authority- Port Chester
Julian Curtiss– Greenwich, CT
Riverside Elementary-Riverside, CT
Second Congregational Church of Greenwich- Greenwich , CT
In School Residencies
 As part of the push to make the arts a valuable part of each school’s curriculum Clay Art Center offers in school residencies to integrate clay into the existing curriculum. A teaching artist will tailor a project around the school’s core curriculum making clay a presence in the classroom as they learn about Harriet Tubman, Geometry, the Inuit culture or build on their artistic skills.
West Elementary- New Canaan, CT
Rye Country Day School- Rye
Corpus Christi- Port Chester
Special Groups
 Clay Art Center strengthens its support of the community by forming lasting partnerships with many organization serving seniors, people living with cancer, people with Alzheimer's and recovering from mental illness. These classes and workshops allow members to relax and explore their own inner experiences while growing artistically.
Healing With Clay-Gilda’s Club of Westchester-White Plains
Molding Memories- Alzheimer’s Association-New Rochelle
A J Posillipo Community Center- Rye Brook
Port Chester Nursing Home-Port Chester
One World Study Group- Port Chester
Hope House - Port Chester
Second Cup of Coffee- Port Chester
The Osborne- Rye
Events
 Each year Clay Art Center send teaching artists to volunteer at community events such as Port Chester Fest in May, Port Chester Day in August and the Museum Without Walls annual event. These events put clay into the hands of those who need it most by offering free hands-on clay activities to area residents. Each year the list of events grows longer as residents of all ages experience the magic of clay for the first time and become the center’s advocates.
Port Chester Day-PC Recreation Department- Port Chester
Port Chester Fest-Council of Community Services- Port Chester
Empty Bowls- Rye Presbyterian Church- Rye
Community Markets-Rye-Larchmont-New Rochelle
Westchester Children’s Museum-Museum Without Walls- Rye
Intern Programs
 Each year we have the opportunity to work with young interns from Port Chester high school in partnership with SER of Westchester and the Children’s Village Employment and Education Center. These teens participate in our public mosaic projects and educational programs while learning about a professional artist’s studio and a collaborative office environment.
SER of Westchester
Children’s Village Educations and Employment Center
Greenwich Highschool Community Learning Program
Greenwich High school | 
