Maine Prairie Studio on Main Street
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Springboard for the ArtsMaine Prairie Studio aims to nurture creativity in the ceramic arts through classes and residencies.
$1,100
raised by 9 people
$51,000 goal
Update #2
It has been a busy winter and spring here at Maine Prairie Studio. Our five week winter classes sent really well. They were the first classes at our downtown Kimball location. We had a wonderful group of new and returning students.
The new space has been wonderful. We have ample space for classes to run and for students to work at the same time. We are definitely getting use to having a bit more space. We can't say how much we appreciate everyone's support with the changes.
Thank you all for your donations to our 'Maine Prairie Studio on Main Street' fundraiser! We are truly grateful for your support and thank you again for supporting our educational programming and artist support services at Maine Prairie Studio.
Thanks,
JD and Megan
Our Mission
Maine Prairie Studio aims to nurture creativity and elevate the ceramic arts through community education for Minnesotans. Additionally, we support local, regional and national artists through assistantships, retreats and residencies.
What we've been doing
Maine Prairie Studio was founded in 2018 at the home studio of JD and Megan Jorgenson. Since we opened, we have offered small, hands on pottery classes. This fall, we offered six separate ten week classes, including beginning and intermediate wheel throwing, and hand building, with 27 students enrolled. Our classes draw students from throughout the local region, many of whom return to take multiple classes.
In addition to the ten week class sessions, we have an assistantship program which allows early career ceramic artists to learn about running a studio, while developing their skills and voice in clay. Four assistants have worked with us in the studio so far. In 2020, we built two wood burning kilns at our studio with help from assistants. We have facilitated ten wood firings since then, with over 20 regional artists participating in the firings.
We have also hosted a series of 'Come Try It' classes at the studio, which are short sessions to provide an introduction to clay, and several weekend workshops offering a more in depth exploration of topics in ceramics.
Why support Maine Prairie Studio?
Our classes have continually grown over the past five years. To better meet community interest and needs, we are expanding this winter to a location in downtown Kimball, MN. This expansion will allow us to teach more students, to offer open studio access for students and community members, to continue our assistantship program, and to start a ceramic residency program.
Our educational and artist support programming is fiscally sponsored by Springboard for the Arts Fiscal Sponsorship Program, Incubator. Being a fiscally sponsored project means that we can receive tax-deductible donations. All money donated to Maine Prairie Studio will be use specifically for educational and artist support purposes. We currently asking for donations to complete needed renovations of the teaching space in Kimball, to purchase wheels and other additional equipment, and to assist with operating costs for the 2024 year.
Maine Prairie Studio is a sponsored project of Springboard for the Arts, a nonprofit arts service organization. Contributions on behalf of Maine Prairie Studio may be made payable to Springboard for the Arts and are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
How to support our ceramic arts programming
Donations can be made to Maine Prairie Studio here, through the GiveMN website, or by sending a check to Springboard for the Arts. Checks should be made out to Springboard for the Arts, with Maine Prairie Studio in the memo.
To give by check:
Springboard for the Arts
ATTN: Individual Giving
262 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55103
Add: Maine Prairie Studio in the memo
We also accept In-Kind and Matching donations. Please consider making a tax deductible In-Kind donation or a Matching donation to Maine Prairie Studio. We are particularly in need of more wheels, but we also would welcome clay, tools, bats or other ceramics studio materials or equipment. Please contact us by email or phone with any questions you may have about our studio or making an In-Kind donation or Matching donation.
Visit our website for more information on this event, classes and other opportunities to get involved.