The Clay Studio of Missoula Endowment

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In 2022, The Clay Studio of Missoula Endowment was established with the Missoula Community Foundation. Planned giving is an easy way to leave a gift for the community or interest areas you care about most. If you are interested in having The Clay Studio of Missoula be a part of your estate plan and have questions, please contact Executive Director Shalene Valenzuela (director@theclaystudioofmissoula.org/406-543-0509).

 

You may also contribute directly to the endowment on The Missoula Community Foundation's website. For stock donations, Montana Endowment Tax Credit qualifying gifts, or non-monetary gifts to our endowment, The Missoula Community Foundation can work with donors to get these gifts set up.

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Residency Fellowships & Scholarships 

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Resident Fellowships awards are currently $2,500 and offer one year to support to a long-term resident artist who demonstrates exceptional merit and promise. Fellow awards will allow residents the increased opportunity to focus their attention on their work during their residency.  Current fellowships may be established annually for $2750. Backers are encouraged to fund a fellowship for a minimum of two years. Our current goal is to increase the amount of support provided to all five long term residents annually.

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Starting in 2024 the Resident Scholarship Program will begin to provide material and firing stipends to  eligible short-term residents.  Donors may contribute any amount during the year to our Resident Scholarship Fund.

 

Contact Executive Director Shalene Valenzuela to learn more about the Resident Scholarship & Fellowship Program and how to contribute (406-543-0509/director@theclaystudioofmissoula.org)

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Thank you to the Sippy Foundation, who has provided funding for our resident fellows since 2021!

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Other Restricted Gifts 

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Are you passionate about a specific part of our programming and wish to direct your support where it matters most to you? 

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Currently Established Restricted Funds

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Youth Scholarship Fund

Our youth scholarship fund provides both full and partial financial aid to individual youth who wish to participate in onsite classes and camps, and also enables us to provide free onsite group workshops to organizations serving youth in the community.

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Accessibility Scholarship Fund

Our Accessibility Scholarship fund will provide both full and partial financial aid to persons of any age facing financial barriers in accessing clay classes and workshops. Our goal is to start offering scholarships sometime in 2024, once sufficient funds have been raised to offer support. 

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Wood Fire Fund

Funds support ongoing maintenance & upkeep of wood kiln site, plus Biennial Wood Fire Invitational educational opportunities and activities. 

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After School Program Fund

For nearly a decade, we have provided free Claymania! after school programming for the Flagship Program. Thanks to support from the Montana Arts Council in spring 2022, and an American Rescue Plan grant through the Montana Office of Public Instruction, in 2022/23, we now offer free after school programs to five Missoula area public schools per week. We hope to sustain this program beyond 2022/23, and will need additional support to do so. 

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Contact Executive Director Shalene Valenzuela if you's like to contribute to a specific fund listed above (406-543-0509/director@theclaystudioofmissoula.org). You may also specify on your donation if you'd like it to be directed to a specific fund on your mailed check, or make a note of it in an online contribution through our Donate Now link. 

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Here Montana Clay Classes & Workshops

We have been able to work with Here Montana to expand ceramic art opportunities for Missoula’s People of Color and intersecting communities. In 2023 we hosted a fully funded 6-week pottery class and provided numerous drop-in workshops led by talented BIPOC ceramic artists in our community.

 

We look forward to growing support for continued opportunities in ceramics in collaboration with Here Montana and other community groups.

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Our "Wish List"

There are other programs that we aim to establish so we can better serve those in our community and make clay accessible to all. Though we are working behind the scenes to develop support for these funds, if you are interested in helping us get a head start in making these a reality, or have other programs you may be interested in supporting or providing resources for, please do reach out! 

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Workshop Sponsorships - Host a Local Organization

Mobile Clay Arts Program to Expand Access

Exhibition Sponsorships

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