AGENDA #7a

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

FROM:            Kathryn Spatz, Parks & Recreation Director

                       

SUBJECT:       Pottery Programs Provided Through the Private Sector

 

DATE:             April 30, 2003

 

 

This is in response to a request to a Council member’s question concerning private sector pottery programs currently offered in the community and the potential to merge participants in the Town’s program into other programs.  

 

In addition to the Parks and Recreation Department’s pottery program currently housed at the Lincoln Arts Center, we are aware of four private sector/non-profit programs in Orange and Durham Counties. The Arts Center and The Clay Center are based in Carrboro and the Durham Arts Council and Clay Makers are located in Durham.

 

The Clay Center and Clay Makers programs appear to target serious artists. The Durham Arts Council offers full time instruction for all ability levels and provides a full time staff person on duty at all times to offer “open studio” time at no extra charge.

 

Pottery activities offered at the Arts Center in Carrboro appear to be most similar in nature to those provided at the Town’s Lincoln Art Center. The Town’s program serves more youth and young adults than does the Arts Center. The major limitation of the Arts Center is a lack of sufficient space to offer additional pottery programs. The Arts Center has recently begun a community outreach initiative, expanding youth and after school programs at the Arts Center building as well as satellite programs at private space leased in the Meadowmont business community. However, lack of space continues to limit Arts Center programs, particularly pottery classes which require significant storage space and special ventilation.

 

One unique benefit of the existing space at the Lincoln Arts Center is its ambience, created by the abundance of natural light from large windows and high ceilings (13.5 feet).  We believe that these features make the Lincoln studio particularly conducive to creative activities such as pottery.

 

We will continue to research other options, including potential opportunities to use space owned by the City School System and the university.