Forge Ceramics 2021-2022 Equipment Fundraiser

Donating to this fund will go to upgrading the equipment in the Forge's Ceramics Studio!

The Equipment Wishlist:

Clay Extruder     $1,500

Electrical Upfitting    $2,000

Kiln                           $3,000

HEPA Filter System  $3,000

Spray Booth             $1,500

Electric Wheels x 3   $3,000

"When our ceramics studio was founded in 2017, it began in a closet with a broken test kiln and a single pottery wheel. Over the years, our studio has grown in membership and capability to become one of the Forge’s fastest-growing sections," Michele Messer, studio pioneer, reflects on where the studio came from.  "When I started this studio, I had no idea how popular it would become, and what an integral part it would come to play at Forge Greensboro.  With our current kiln setup, we are limited in firing capacity. This means members must make less work per batch, have more frequent kiln firings, and more time is needed to complete batches of work, increasing costs for them, their customers, and the Forge itself. This limits the growth potential of the small businesses that call this studio home.  Upgrades to the studio, especially in regard to our firing capacity and power supply, are critical for the continued growth of our studio, and our members’ small businesses."

Currently, there are least 20 ceramicists operating at the Forge that are creating work to sell, whether it be for supplemental income or their full-time gig.  That number does not even include the hobbyists or artists who use the studio for their personal art. 

Upgrading our equipment will allow more artist entrepreneurs to function within our studio and stimulate our local maker economy!