Expanding Ceramic Arts Education in Kansas City

Introduction: Shaping the Future of Ceramic Arts

KC Clay Guild (KCCG) is excited to announce an ambitious capital campaign aimed at expanding access to ceramic arts education for the Kansas City community. Our vision is to purchase, renovate, and outfit a larger studio and gallery building that will serve as a focal point for creativity, education, and collaboration. By enhancing our facilities, we will be able to offer new low and no-cost programming, affordable artist studios, and expanded educational opportunities for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

The current KCCG studio size limits the ability to fulfill its mission.

• Our current waitlist for classes is often 6 months long or greater.
• We reach capacity for attendance during Family Fun Nights.
• We are unable to fulfill studio or shelf space requests for our artists.
• We are limited on the no/low cost programming that we are able to offer.
• We have limited gallery space to be able to display and sell our artist’s works.

Progress Report: Phase 1 & 2, Building Momentum

Our total investment to purchase and renovate the new building is expected to be $1.25 million.

Based on our work with IFF (https://iff.org/), KCCG has been approved for a $750,000 loan at a very reasonable interest rate.

Therefore, the goald of Phase 1 & 2 of KCCG’s Capital Campaign is to raise $500,000.

Since our campaign's launch in September 2023, the KC Clay Guild has made remarkable progress, raising over $300,000— well over halfway to our goal. Each contribution is a testament to the community’s commitment to expanding ceramic arts education and ensuring that everyone has access to this enriching craft.

The Vision: A New Home for Creativity - our vision includes a spacious building between 15,000 to 20,000 square feet. This new facility will include:

• Ample Shelf Space: Increased shelf space for rental, enabling artists to store in-progress works safely.
  
• Enhanced Retail Area: A larger shop that includes more clay and tools, ensuring that artists have access to the best materials needed for their craft.
  
• Expanded Gallery Space: A larger gallery to feature more local artists and provide them with opportunities for exhibitions, enriching the cultural fabric of Kansas City.
  
• Off Street Parking: Patrons will have an easier time accessing the building.

Phase Three is focused on outfitting the renovated building with furniture and equipment. This includes adding an additional 25 wheels, slab roller, hand building tables, glazing tables, glaze booth, gallery furniture, and a dust collection system. The Phase 3 goal is $150,000.

Future Plans: After moving into our new space paying off the loan for the New Building will be a major goal.  After moving into the Renovated and Outfitted New Building, KCCG plans to sell our existing building (as it is currently owned outright) and use those funds to pay down our loan. KCCG is currently a debt free organization and would like to return to this status as soon as possible.    

Conclusion: Join Us in Shaping the Future

KC Clay Guild is at a pivotal moment in its journey. The expansion of our facilities will allow us to better serve the Kansas City community by breaking down barriers to access and encouraging artistic expression. Together, we can create a nurturing environment for both seasoned artists and those eager to dip their toes into the world of clay.

Join us in our capital campaign to transform the landscape of ceramic arts education in Kansas City. Together, we can make a lasting impact on our community and inspire generations to come. Thank you for your support!

FOUNDER ( $50,000 + )

THE MEMBERS OF KC CLAY GUILD

WINDGATE FOUNDATION

PARTNER ( $25,000 - $49,999 )

THE MAY FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST

MURIEL MCBRIEN KAUFFMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION

LEADER ( $10,000 - $24,999 )

BEDNAR FAMILY FUND

DANIEL BRUNING & CYNTHIA DRAKE FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND

PATRON ($5,000 - $9,999 )

ARTSKC

BRACKER'S GOOD EARTH CLAYS

NANCY AND KEITH MAYS CHARITABLE FUND

ADVOCATE ( $2,500 - $4,999 )

JOHN AND JOCELYN FRY DONOR ADVISED FUND

MELISSA MAY

THE PETERS FAMILY

ALVIN J SCHNEIDER CHARITABLE FUND

BENEFACTOR ( $1,000 - $2,499 )

ELAINE ADAMS

BNSF RAILWAY FOUNDATION

BURNS AND MCDONNELL FOUNDATION

LAUREN BURKE

JOYCE KIRK

KOGER FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND

JOHN LANCASTER

ART LLOYD

ANNE MULVIHILL

KATHY PAYSON IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH L. SMITH

WILLIAM PRATT & STACY PRATT

MELYNDA STEWARD

GEORGE W. & ADA HEATH ULTCH MEMORIAL FUND - COMMERCE BANK TRUSTEE

SUPPORTER ( $250 - $999 )

ANONYMOUS

ANONYMOUS

ANONYMOUS

DANIEL BECKER

CATHY BROSKI

LINDA CALLAHAN

KELLEY CRAMM

DAVID FIRMAN

MARILYN HIGGINS

KAY LANE

PAULA MURRAY

RAE ANN NIXON

SAMANTHA NUTT

KATHY OLDER

ANNE REGIER 

MICHAEL SMITH

THE WESTLUND FAMILY FUND

ALISON AND JOSH WOOD

MARK ZIMMERSCHIED

FRIEND ( UP TO $249 )

AIMEE ADAMS

RACHEL AKIN

SALLY ALLEN

GRETCHEN ALLEN JOHNS

CHAR ANDERSON

CHERYL AUFDEMBERGE

ASHLEY BAKER

RICKY BAMBERGER

TIM BATES

NANCY BEAN

ELLY BIGGERSTAFF

CLAUDIA CAPPS

DAN CAPLAN

JESSICA CARTWRIGHT

JULIE COLE

MELISSA CORNWELL

SALLY COX

SUSAN BACON

CHANDA BAKER

JULIE BERARDI

PAIGE BLASBERG

BEVIN BROOKS

DICK DANIELS

KELLY DANIELS

CHANDRA DEBUSE

MATTHEW DIRKS

JANE EDWARDS

SAUL ELLIS

PHYLLIS EPPS

CARY ESSER & MO DICKENS

JERRY EVANS

ALEX FERGUSON

ELIZABETH FLEMINGTON

JON FRANCIS

MARYBETH FULLER

BRIAN GARDINER

LISA GOODMAN

NIKKI GOODSON

SOPHIA GRANTHAM

KAREN HARTZLER

KATE HEINAN

KELSIE HERRON

BILL HERRING

BRUCIE AND BILL HOPKINS

TINA HOOVER

EMILY KITE

IN HONOR OF JENNY KOLBECK

GINA FRISELLA SPENGEL

DEBORAH GENDEL

NANCY GORDON

ALISON GRAETTINGER

RACHEL HAGAN

CONNIE HARCLERODE

DAVID AND KENDALL HEATHER

KELSIE HERRON

KATRIN HEUSER

JOYCE HOUSEHOLDER

ANDREW HUNKELE

VALERIE JOHNSON

GRETCHEN JONES

SADIE KANOWIK

ERIK LARSEN

HUEY LEE

ELIZABETH LEECH

BONNIE LIMBIRD

JENNIFER LYLES

SARA MACLEOD-ARENA

CHELSEA MAGRUDER

NL MAI

KATHIE MANDA

NICOLE MARSHALL

PATTY MARSHALL

PHILLIP MARTIN

ALEX MAY

ELIZABETH MCCAMY

CHUCK MCCARDIE

TIMOTHY MCVAY

MATHEW MEUNIER

BREANNA MOAK

MOLLY MONTGOMERY

KATE MORR

RACHEL MUZZY

KAREN NORMAN

SAMANTHA PADILLA

APRIL PARKS

ALLISON PECK

KARLA PENECHAR

ROSALIND PERCY

MEGAN RODENBERG

ELLEN PORTER

SHAUN POWERS

ERIC RAVEN

RICHARD REILLY

EDEE RIGGIN

TRESSA ROECKER

PAMELA SAMULCEK

LISA SCHMITZ

TOM SCHILLER

JUHA SILFVERBERG

DEBRA SIPES

LUCY SPARE

TINA SPANOS

JESSICA STARK

ERIN SUNSONG

ANN TILLERY

URSULA TIZON

GREG TRENT

CLAUDIA TRUE

LAURA TYLER

LAURA AND JEFF TYLER

IN MEMORY OF MARLYS WATERS

JUDY WEDDLE

JAMES WEST

KAREN WILLIAMS

BARBARA WOOD

ZACH WOLLERT

VERNON WRANOSKY

VINCENT VALENTINO