Announcing our Creative Forces Grant
Clay Art Center was awarded a $10,000 Creative Forces Grant. The Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA).
We have big news to share! Clay Art Center is one of 48 organizations across the U.S. that were awarded a Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant, part of the Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network. This grant supports community based arts projects that aim to address the experiences, challenges, and strengths of our military communities.
Clay Art Center, in partnership with Westchester Veterans Service Agency and Westchester Community College, will offer free clay programs for veterans. The classes will be available to veterans, their families, and their caregivers, creating opportunities to engage with clay, and support well-being through creativity.
At Clay Art Center we believe in the transformative power of clay as a pathway to connection, healing, and self-expression. We are honored to be the recipients of this Creative Forces grant and look forward to providing meaningful ceramics programs to Veterans and their families.
Emily Peck | Executive Director, Clay Art Center
Arts initiatives like those provided by the Clay Art Center serve as a positive creative outlet for veterans, fostering self-expression and healing through creativity. Engagement in the arts provides critical opportunities for camaraderie among veterans, establishing bonds and understanding through shared experiences in a supportive community. These programs undeniably aid in easing the transition from military to civilian life, offering veterans a channel to explore and articulate their narratives in constructive and meaningful ways.
Travis Melby | Program Administrator, Westchester Veterans Service Agency
About Clay Art Center
Clay Art Center is dedicated to education, creativity, and community engagement through clay by providing an inclusive space for learning, studio practice, exhibitions, personal growth, and professional development in ceramic arts. It is located in the heart of Port Chester at 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. Connect with Clay Art Center for classes, workshops, studio tours, gallery events, shopping, and more! Learn more, shop online, and register for classes at www.clayartcenter.org.
About the Westchester Veterans Service Agency
The Westchester County Veterans Service Agency works year-round to ensure that all veterans and their dependents receive the maximum benefits from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies at all levels of government. Learn more about their work at veterans.westchestergov.com.
Our Mission: Clay Art Center is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to education, creativity, and community engagement through clay by providing an inclusive space for learning, studio practice, exhibitions, personal growth, and professional development in ceramic arts.
