About

Our Mission

Seward Park Clay Studio’s mission is to promote the growth of the ceramic arts by providing a broad range of educational programs, events and studio opportunities for artists, in a community clay arts facility. Located in the most beautiful park along Lake Washington, Seward Park Clay Studio has been a vital element in the Northwest’s visual arts community since 1969. We offer community classes in wheel throwing and hand building for adults and children, in both low-fire and high-fire temperature ranges. Our teachers are among the best in the region, and are recognized nationally and internationally for their work. Students are invited to make work outside of class time in our open studio hours available every day of the week. We welcome you to take a class, participate in our workshops, or by giving financially to help others take part in the many opportunities that we offer.

A Place to make art

What better place to make clay art than an old brick building nestled in a park full of old growth trees, beaches and wildlife? Seward Park Clay Studio has been incorporated as a non-profit educational ceramics institution and run by a Board of directors since 1986.

A Diverse Mix

We serve over 5000 people every year through our classes, our workshops and lecture series, our annual sales and our collaborative shows with local galleries. Part of the joy of working in this environment has been the stretching of the soul that happens when excellent teachers, students and artists work together.

We Stand Together!

Clay brought us together and helped us form a family at Seward Park Clay Studio. We stand in solidarity with communities of color, marginalized people, and those without financial power. Art is for everyone and is transformational. Any practice or system which dehumanizes our brothers and sisters is unacceptable to us. No discrimination of any kind will ever be tolerated in our studio. We stand together with people of all backgrounds who have come together in collective grief and anger caused by systemic racism.

We commit ourselves to dialogue and the hard work of making social justice come about. We are taking steps to address these issues and enact policies which lead to action and equity. We need your help and your involvement. Everyone is invited. Feel free to email the Director: PeterOlsen@sewardparkart.org if you have ideas.

Although our usual tools are clay, wheels and kilns, we know that these times require more than that. Our mission to promote the growth of the ceramic arts requires open minds and open hearts. Join us!

Peter Olsen,
Executive Director, on behalf of our community and team Seward.