Artist in Residence, Huey Lee, at work in the handbuilding studio.
Expanding Ceramic Arts Education in Kansas City
Since 1988, KC Clay Guild (KCCG) has been a hub for ceramic arts in the Kansas City community. We're amid the largest change in the history of our organization - purchasing, renovating, and outfitting 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.
We need your help to make our ambitious Capital Campaign a success and expand access to ceramic arts education for the Kansas City community.
3000 individuals served each year • 930 members • Over 25% of programming is discounted or free • 100,000 pounds of clay used annually • 5,000 volunteer hours worked annually
Building Purchase & Start Renovation
KCCG’s first major Capital Campaign kicked off to raise an initial $500,000, in conjunction with a loan from IFF, to support the building purchase and start the renovation.
As of April 2025, the $500,000 goal was surpassed! We are so grateful for the support hundreds of individuals along with many foundations. Check out the donor list below.
This allowed us to purchase our new home, located in Midtown, Kansas City, MO, an 18,600 square foot building with 60 car parking lot.
Complete Renovation & Outfitting
KC Clay Guild is currently focused on working with new donors to secure leadership gifts as we work towards completing renovation and outfitting the new building with furniture and equipment.
A New Home for Creativity - an 18,600 square foot building has been purchased! This new facility will include:
Dedicated Teaching Studios: Three teaching studios designed for specialized learning— wheel throwing and handbuilding—equipped with the latest tools and resources to nurture creativity. This will allow our classes to over double, overcoming our months long waitlist.
Open Area for Exploration: A large Community Studio that encourages experimentation and collaboration between different ceramic art forms, fostering a sense of community among artists and students. This allows artists to work outside of dedicated classes and create a large gathering space for Family Fun Night.
Affordable Artist Studios: At least 4 private and 16 semi-private studios will be available for rental, allowing artists to create in a conducive space while being part of a supportive community.
Ample Shelf Space: Over 4 times our current shelf space will be available 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.
Dedicated Gallery Space: A dedicated exhibition 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 with our 55 car private parking lot.
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!
After moving into our new space, our focus will shift to returning to our current status as a debt free organization. After the move, KCCG plans to sell our existing building (as it is currently owned outright) and use those funds to pay down our loan.
Thank You to Our Supporters
FOUNDER ( $100,000 + )
THE MEMBERS OF KC CLAY GUILD
THE MAY FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
RICHARD J. STERN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, COMMERCE BANK, TRUSTEE
WINDGATE FOUNDATION
PARTNER ( $25,000 - $99,999 )
BEDNAR FAMILY FUND
BRACKER’S GOOD EARTH CLAYS
BRUGH FAMILY FOUNDATION
J. SCOTT FRANCIS, THE FRANCIS FAMILY FOUNDATION
KAUFMAN FAMILY FUND
MURIEL MCBRIEN KAUFFMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
ROHDE
LEADER ( $10,000 - $24,999 )
THE BRUGH FAMILY FOUNDATION
DANIEL BRUNING & CYNTHIA DRAKE FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
FORGE CONSTRUCTION
LIGHTON FUND
MIKE LYON CHARITABLE FUND
PATRON ($5,000 - $9,999 )
ANONYMOUS
GERALDINE & R A BARROWS FOUNDATION, UMB BANK, N.A., TRUSTEE
NANCY SIMONS BEAN
LEVIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
DR. ART LLOYD
MELISSA MAY
NANCY AND KEITH MAYS CHARITABLE FUND
SARAH ROWLAND IN MEMORY OF SALLY KANEY RUDDY
LLOYD AND KELLI WALKER
FRIEND ( UP TO $249 )
RACHEL AKIN
SALLY ALLEN
GRETCHEN ALLEN JOHNS
CHAR ANDERSON
STIRLING ANDERSON
CHERYL AUFDEMBERGE
ASHLEY BAKER
RICKY BAMBERGER
TIM BATES
ELLY BIGGERSTAFF
CLAUDIA CAPPS
DAN CAPLAN
JESSICA CARTWRIGHT
JULIE COLE
MELISSA CORNWELL
SALLY COX
SUSAN BACON
CHANDA BAKER
JULIE BERARDI
PAIGE BLASBERG
BEVIN BROOKS
KELLY DANIELS
CHANDRA DEBUSE
MATTHEW DIRKS
SAUL ELLIS
PHYLLIS EPPS
CARY ESSER & MO DICKENS
JERRY EVANS
ALEX FERGUSON
ELIZABETH FLEMINGTON
JON FRANCIS
MARYBETH FULLER
BRIAN GARDINER
LISA GOODMAN
NIKKI GOODSON
ADVOCATE ( $2,500 - $4,999 )
BURNS AND MCDONNELL FOUNDATION
JOHN AND JOCELYN FRY DONOR ADVISED FUND
MARILYN & RONALD HIGGINS
KOGER FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
THE PETERS FAMILY
ALVIN J SCHNEIDER CHARITABLE FUND
BENEFACTOR ( $1,000 - $2,499 )
ELAINE ADAMS
LEONARD & IRENE BETTINGER PHILANTHROPIC FUND
BNSF RAILWAY FOUNDATION
LAUREN BURKE
LINDA CALLAHAN
COMMERCE BANCSHARES FOUNDATION
JOHN DEVANEY
KAREN DICKSON-MASSEY
ALLISON GRAETTINGER
W. HUNTER WOLBACH FOUNDATION
CAROL A. KENNEDY
AL KING
JOYCE KIRK
JOHN LANCASTER
KAY LANE
ANNE MULVIHILL
KATHY PAYSON IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH L. SMITH
LORA AND SCOTT PETERSON IN MEMORY OF SANDI DOWER
WILLIAM PRATT & STACY PRATT
DR. ANNE M. REGIER
LYNN SMISER BOWERS
MICHAEL SMITH
MELYNDA STEWARD
GEORGE W. & ADA HEATH ULTCH MEMORIAL FUND - COMMERCE BANK TRUSTEE
JOEL WAXMAN
SOPHIA GRANTHAM
KAREN HARTZLER
KATE HEINAN
KELSIE HERRON
BILL HERRING
STEVEN HILL
BRUCIE AND BILL HOPKINS
TINA HOOVER
MARSHA KATZ
EMILY KITE
IN HONOR OF JENNY KOLBECK
DEBORAH GENDEL
NANCY GORDON
ALISON GRAETTINGER
RACHEL HAGAN
CONNIE HARCLERODE
DAVID AND KENDALL HEATHER
KELSIE HERRON
CASSIE KESTER
KATRIN HEUSER
JOYCE HOUSEHOLDER
ANDREW HUNKELE
HALEY JESTER MOTT
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
SUPPORTER ( $250 - $999 )
AIMEE ADAMS
ANONYMOUS
ANONYMOUS
ANONYMOUS
DANIEL BECKER
SHARON BOWEN
CATHY BROSKI
MARNE CLOSE
CAL COHEN
KELLEY CRAMM
DICK DANIELS
APRIL DARBYSHIRE
JANE EDWARDS
THE SAUL & IRENE ELLIS FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
DAVID FIRMAN
GINA FRISELLA SPENGEL
JUDITH KAHN
CAROLYN KROH
CARRIE MAGILL
E. THOMAS MCCLANAHAN
PAULA MURRAY
RAE ANN NIXON
SAMANTHA NUTT
KATHY OLDER
VIRGINIA OSTERGREN
PERKINS-MCGUINESS & BENJAMIN FAMILY FUND
IN HONOR OF FIONA RUTGERS
LUCY SPARE
PATTI STENGEL
LAURA TYLER STRAWN
PHILLIP WEBSTER
KATIE WENDEL
THE WESTLUND FAMILY FUND
ALISON AND JOSH WOOD
MARK ZIMMERSCHIED
JOYCE MCFADDEN
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
LUKE REICHLE
RICHARD REILLY
EDEE RIGGIN
TRESSA ROECKER
CORBIN ROOKARD
PAMELA SAMULCEK
LISA SCHMITZ
TOM SCHILLER
JUHA SILFVERBERG
DEBRA SIPES
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
DONALD & FRAN WATTERSON
JUDY WEDDLE
JAMES WEST
KAREN WILLIAMS
BARBARA WOOD
ZACH WOLLERT
VERNON WRANOSKY
VINCENT VALENTINO