BALTIMORE – U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin announced today that Baltimore Clayworks has received a $48,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for after-school art classes for children in under-served areas.

"I am very pleased that NEA has awarded Baltimore Clayworks a significant grant to provide after-school art programs to children who usually do not have access to art instruction. It’s important that every child have a chance to reach their full potential and access to the creative arts should be part of every child’s experience," said Rep. Cardin, whose Third Congressional District includes Baltimore Clayworks.

Baltimore Clayworks is a non-profit ceramic arts center that has achieved a reputation for artistic excellence, strong educational programs and sustained community involvement. It will use the NEA grant for three community-based art programs. It will help provide after-school art classes to elementary and middle school-age children at the St. Frances Academy Community Center in the Brentwood Village area of East Baltimore and at Baltimore Clayworks’ satellite studio at the Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore. It also will help fund the Baltimore Clayworks’ Best and Brightest Program in which middle school students who show a commitment and dedication to art attend Saturday classes at Baltimore Clayworks’ studio in Mt. Washington.

In addition to the St. Frances Academy Community Center and the Mondawmin Mall programs, Baltimore Clayworks also provides art programs to the Hampden Family Center, the Somerset Homes Housing Projects, the Child First Program and the Dunbar Middle School YMCA.

For 24 years, Baltimore Clayworks has provided exhibitions of contemporary ceramic art, a juried artists’ residency program and hands-on clay instruction at its main Mt. Washington studio and at other community sites throughout the Baltimore area.

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