Northern Clay Center

Northern Clay Center Northern Clay Center advances the ceramic arts for artists, learners, and the community, through education, exhibitions, and artist services.
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Opened in 1990, Northern Clay Center is now an established ceramic arts organization. Through special programs, lectures, symposia, and publications, we reach a national and international audience, as well as a direct audience of regional participants. Other programs, such as the American Pottery Festival, McKnight Residencies, and other fellowship grants, bring national artists to the region to continually feed a lively exchange of ideas and aesthetics.

This spring, we partnered with Minneapolis Public School’s Blind Low Vision Program. Together, 30 middle schoolers hand ...
06/18/2026

This spring, we partnered with Minneapolis Public School’s Blind Low Vision Program. Together, 30 middle schoolers hand built mugs with the help of our talented teaching artists! Swipe to the end to see the finished projects!

Want to bring clay to your community? Click the link in our bio and fill out our Outreach Partnership Inquiry form!

Minneapolis Public Schools BrightWorks

Summer clay camps are in full swing! We still have some spots available through the end of the summer for your creative ...
06/16/2026

Summer clay camps are in full swing! We still have some spots available through the end of the summer for your creative children, just click the link in our bio to sign them up now! Themes vary from functional pots to creative critters.

Handbuilding camps are for children ages 6+, and wheel camps are for children ages 9+. We also have teen camps, for teens ages 13+.

NCC’s annual Eight McKnight Artists exhibition opens this Saturday, June 20! This exhibition provides the unique opportu...
06/16/2026

NCC’s annual Eight McKnight Artists exhibition opens this Saturday, June 20! This exhibition provides the unique opportunity to view works by the 2025 recipients of the McKnight Fellowship for Ceramic Artists, Elizabeth Coleman (Minneapolis, MN) and Peter Jadoonath (Shafer, MN), as well as the 2024 recipients of the McKnight Residency for Ceramic Artists: Birdie Boone (Meadowview, VA), Uriel Caspi (Tilburg, Netherlands), Suze Lindsay (Bakersville, NC), Sana Musasama (New York, NY), Dorothea Nold (Berlin, Germany), and KyoungHwa Oh (Grand Junction, CO).

Join us for the free public reception and McKnight Summer Open House on Saturday, July 11 from 1 – 4 pm.

The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.

Join us in the gallery on Thursday, June 25 from 6 - 7 pm for a free Thursday Discovery Series talk on financial managem...
06/12/2026

Join us in the gallery on Thursday, June 25 from 6 - 7 pm for a free Thursday Discovery Series talk on financial management for artists and creatives with Nneka Constantino! Constantino is a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over two decades of experience advising clients on wealth creation and economic empowerment. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at the form in our bio or at the door.

Making art is the dream. Making it work is the skill. In this talk, Nneka Constantino breaks down the financial side of a creative life offering practical, accessible advice on money management to help you build sustainable income without losing your artistic soul. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your business instincts, you'll leave with practical tools and a clearer picture of what it means to thrive as an artist.

Apply to be NCC’s Outreach Technician! This position is 24 hours per week on average, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday...
06/10/2026

Apply to be NCC’s Outreach Technician! This position is 24 hours per week on average, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9 am - 5:30 pm. Applications are due to Julia Rodman, NCC’s Community Engagement Manager, by Wednesday, June 24. Click the link in our bio to learn more and apply now!

The Outreach Technician is the engine behind NCC’s community clay programming — keeping materials moving, kilns firing, and partners supported across the Twin Cities. You’ll provide technical and logistical support for ART@HAND and ClayToGo outreach partnerships, on-site workshops including private parties, and the administrative tasks that keep it all running. Think: wrangling timelines, hauling clay, and being the person everyone can count on.

This position includes the benefit of a complimentary furnished studio space shared with the Kiln & Facilities and Materials Technicians — kiln firing and in-stock materials included (some exceptions and volume restrictions apply).

We have a beautiful display of new work from Laurie Caffery available for purchase in the gallery and in our online shop...
06/09/2026

We have a beautiful display of new work from Laurie Caffery available for purchase in the gallery and in our online shop! From butter dishes to mugs, animal to clay themed, there is a fun and creative piece for every home!

We had so much fun connecting students with clay in this month-long residency at Centennial Elementary in Circle Pines! ...
06/04/2026

We had so much fun connecting students with clay in this month-long residency at Centennial Elementary in Circle Pines! Every student, kindergarten through 5th grade, was able to work with clay over multiple days. The first day was dedicated to creating their project, and they were able to paint and decorate their masterpieces the following day. Swipe to see some of the participating students and their projects!

This residency was run through our ClayToGo program. ClayToGo is one of our community outreach programs — bringing art to schools, organizations, and community spaces where people already are. Interested in bringing clay to your community? Click the link in our bio to fill out a partnership inquiry!

We have a great lineup of Featured Artists for the month of June! Check out and shop brand new work from these 6 June Fe...
06/03/2026

We have a great lineup of Featured Artists for the month of June! Check out and shop brand new work from these 6 June Featured Artists at the link in our bio.

Pictured: work by Kevin Caufield , Leila Denecke , Delores Fortuna , Bianka Groves De La Cruz , and Maia Leppo

Please join us in the NCC Library for an artist talk with our two late-spring McKnight Artists in Residence, Simphiwe Mb...
06/02/2026

Please join us in the NCC Library for an artist talk with our two late-spring McKnight Artists in Residence, Simphiwe Mbunyuza and Shiyuan Xu! The talks will take place on Tuesday, June 9, from 6 - 7 pm.

As both artists bring their unique perspectives to NCC’s studios, we look forward to supporting their creative visions while establishing new connections within NCC’s community. Hear from the artists directly about their experiences, artistic practices, and processes, with time afterward for questions.

Address

2424 E Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
55406

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+16123398007

Website

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