**At this time, all Claymobile session are suspended until April 5. Learn more about The Clay Studio's response to COVID-19.
Clay, Play, Read
A new clay and early literacy program for kids 3-8 years old and their caregivers!
Weekly workshops with rotating book-based themes for children and their caregivers to inspire new ways of exploring books at home and in the library.
Learn more about Clay, Play, ReadThe Claymobile Story
The Clay Studio is rooted in the belief that all people deserve access to high-quality arts education, and assumes a strong responsibility to engage all segments of its local community.
Since 1994, Claymobile, our award-winning community engagement program, has collaborated with schools, neighborhood organizations, and other social service agencies throughout the Philadelphia region to create innovative, hands-on approaches to learning in a safe and supportive environment. Today, the Claymobile is recognized as one of the most cost-effective arts education opportunities in the region, and serves as a model for similar programs offered around the country.
Community Impact
Many children and adults in the Philadelphia region lack access to arts experiences in their schools and neighborhoods due to budget constraints, a focus on achievement testing, and the stressors of poverty. We need your support to continue to make a positive impact on the opportunity gap for youth right in our communities.
How it Works
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Fill out our online form to request Claymobile for a residency (a 90-minute lesson once a week for 6 to 12 weeks) or a one-day workshop.
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Claymobile sends you a teaching artist, an assistant, and all the supplies and materials needed for the lesson.
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You provide a classroom teacher, after-school leader, or faculty or staff member to be present and engaged at each class and oversee activities.
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We ask that you provide the space, tables, and chairs for the lesson, as well as access to a source of water.
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The teaching artist leads comprehensive lessons designed specifically for the age and ability of students and the goals of your organization. The students learn the basics of building with clay, and their imagination and confidence grow.
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Students construct their artwork onsite; then we transport it back to The Clay Studio for firing.
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We deliver the finished artwork back to your site, and students can enjoy and show off their masterpieces.
Program Details
- Claymobile Program Options
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Claymobile residency program: A series of weekly ceramics classes that last 6 to 12 weeks, led by a professional ceramic artist and assistant, that are hosted at your school or organization.
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Claymobile workshops: One-time classes that are hosted at your school or organization.
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Claymobile events: Activities hosted by the Claymobile at community events and festivals.
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- Financial Information
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Subsidized rate: The majority of our partners qualify for a subsidized rate of $200 per Claymobile session. This rate is available to schools and organizations that serve an economically disadvantaged population (75% or more of the constituents are classified as having an economic disadvantage). Sliding scale rates are also available.
Fully subsidized wait list: If your organization is unable to pay $200 per class, you may request to be put on the wait list to receive full funding for a Claymobile residency (series of classes). It can take 6 to 24 months for fully funded residencies to become available, and we cannot guarantee funding. We are happy to brainstorm other funding ideas and support you in your independent fundraising efforts.
The full cost of operating Claymobile is $530 per class. We are grateful to our supporters who make subsidizing our classes possible. - Claymobile Curriculum
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We strive to meet your goals and needs by offering four curriculum options:
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Creative Clay works as an “open arts” program, where projects are determined by students’ age and ability. Students will be led through a variety of functional and sculptural handbuilding projects that focus on creativity and self-expression. Students learn the basic techniques, such as coil-building, slab-making, pinching, attaching wet clay through the “slip and score” method, glazing, underglazing, and cold finish decoration.
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S.T.E.A.M. invites students to explore projects in science, technology, engineering, and/or math while creating artwork. Past examples include creating and studying fossils and volcanoes, floating boats, and exploring clay expansion before and after kiln firing. You can choose to focus on one or two portions of S.T.E.A.M. or can opt for a sampler that would touch on all areas.
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Collaborative Clay allows classroom teachers and staff members to work with Claymobile staff to develop curriculum with areas of focus in world cultures, literature, social justice, or art history. This collaboration would include an academic focus on these subjects in the classroom outside of Claymobile lessons.
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Claymation challenges students to develop storyboards, imagine characters, and write dialogue while creating objects and characters using Plasticine clay. Students advance their literacy through narrative storytelling while incorporating technology to create stop-motion mini-films.
All Claymobile lessons complement/adhere to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities.
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- Claymobile Partners
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We partner with many types of organizations, including:
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Schools in Philadelphia, Camden, and Delaware Counties
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Any pre-K through 12th-grade classroom, including science, social studies, and art classes
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After-school programs
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Summer camps
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Community centers
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Senior centers
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Social services centers
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Juvenile justice centers
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Community events and festivals
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- Class Size
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The Claymobile is able to work with groups of up to 33 students.
- Schedule
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The Claymobile program holds classes all year long. Classes are available to be scheduled 7 days a week. Classes are typically 90 minutes long.
- Location & Supplies
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We come to you. Your organization simply needs to provide:
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An invested adult to oversee the activities
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A room with tables and chairs
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A source of water
Claymobile provides:
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A professional teaching artist and assistant
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All needed supplies and materials for ceramics
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Tarps and canvas for tables
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Storage for all supplies (we’ll transport materials to and from your location, so you don’t need to store anything onsite)
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- Download a Printable Flyer
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Download a .pdf of our current flyer and print it out on any copier. Very handy to have — share it with others! Double-sided 8 1/2 x 11 in document.
- Claymobile Newsletters
- Thank you to our 2018-19 Claymobile partners!
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11th Street Health Services
Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy
Al-Buston Seeds of Culture
Art-Reach
Asian Arts Initiative
Beech Jazz on the Ave Music Festival
Belmont Academy Charter School
Better Tomorrows
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Bright Moments - Adult Medical Day Care
Calvary Chapel Word of Life
Camp PALS
Cecil B. Moore Library
Children's Village
Christ the King School
Congreso
Craft NOW
Creative Minds Childcare
Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School
Diversified Community Services - Intensive Prevention Services
Drexel University - Campus Activties Board
Drueding Center
Edwin M. Stanton School
Easter Seals
Eastwick Library
Education Works
Fredrick Douglass Stubbs Elementary School
Freire Charter School
General George G. Meade School
Girls Inc.
Henry A. Brown School
Hill College House (UPenn)
Inglis House
InnovAge
Inquiry Charter School
James Logan School
James R. Ludlow School
John B. Kelly School
John Moffet School
John Welsh School
General Philip Kearny School
Kensington Creative & Performing Arts High School
Kensington Library
Kensington High School
KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy
Lawncrest Library
Lenfest Center
Lutheran Settlement House
Make Art Philly
Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill
Mastery Charter School - Fredrick Douglass Elementary
Mastery Charter School - Molina Elementary
Mastery Charter School - Pickett Campus
Mastery Charter School - Mastery Prep Elementary
Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia, Inc.
Museum of the American Revolution
Night Market Philadelphia
Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez Downtown Branch
National Museum of American Jewish History
Norris Square Community Alliance
OIC Philadelphia
One Bright Ray Community High School
Philadelphia Arts Education Partnership
Philadelphia Children's Festival
Philadelphia OIC
Philadelphia Science Festival
Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Please Touch Museum
Project HOME
Queen's Village Neighborhood Association
Saint Albert the Great
Science Leadership Academy Middle School
Somerset Academy Early Learning Center
Spring Garden School
St. Helena - Incarnation Catholic School
St. Matthew School
St. Gabriel OST
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. Stephens Day Care
Stephen Girard School
Take Back Your Neighborhood
The City School
The Friendship Circle
The Salvaiton Army Greater Philadlephia
The Woodlands
UMASD Extended Day
Wawa Welcomes America
West Oak Library
Western Learning Center
William C. Bryant School
William H. Hunter School
Women Against Abuse
Woodbridge Place
Woods Services
Pottery Unplugged
One person pedals, the other throws a pot!
There's no electricity involved: Pottery Unplugged is a program that runs on a people-powered pottery bike, affectionately called BIKELANGELO, to bring relaxed and mindful art-making directly to the public. This is a dream come true for us. Now we can pedal around Philly neighborhoods and invite anyone to try the potter's wheel, and witness how creativity empowers people, who in turn empower their communities. Pottery Unplugged is made possible by the support of PNC Arts Alive.
Learn more about Pottery Unplugged3k
K-12 students served each year by Claymobile
90%
Claymobile residencies partnering with schools and organizations that serve at least 75% of students with economic need
75%
students in the U.S. who have never had any formal art education (source: NEA)
$25
donation supports a Claymobile class for one student