106 East College Avenue
Suite 820
Tallahassee, FL 32301
888-838-ABLE
(toll-free in Florida)
850-224-4493 Voice or TDD
850-224-4496 Fax
Email:info@abletrust.org
Questions or Comments?
Email the webmaster.
The Able Trust: Creative Clay, Inc. received a grant in April 2007 to support an ART Biz Supported Employment program, which would assist individuals with disabilities gain a variety of employment experience in their community. Tell us a bit about Creative Clay and your gallery.
Creative Clay, Inc.: We are the only designated cultural arts center in the state of Florida that exists to make the arts accessible to all, especially persons with disabilities. Founded in 1995, Creative Clay implements interactive creative sessions based on Dr. Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory. We have a studio program, a community arts program and a retail gallery space that sells original artwork and licensed products.
AT: So Creative Clay has developed overtime to become a model program of social entrepreneurship customized to provide a platform for individual’s artistic goals. Along the way what have been the barriers to achieving your success and how did you break through them?
CC: Our greatest barrier has been state budget cuts. In 2003 and then again in 2007 we experienced severe budget cuts that threatened to end some of our programs. Our amazing, dedicated and professional staff of seven worked together to write grants and to fundraise. We pledged to build awareness one person at a time and will continue to do so until our programs can sustain themselves or until we are fully endowed.
AT: How does training in the arts inform and develop employment skills for your participants? Some might assume they are exclusive of each other.
CC: Through our programs, persons with disabilities get a chance to express themselves. They have a clear voice in the community as they participate in community outings, scheduled volunteer opportunities and gallery openings/events. This assists them when developing appropriate independent and social roles in their community. We believe that the positive attributes of skill building programs transcend many aspects in and throughout life.
AT: How have you approached other arts-related organizations in your community to become partners in your program? How do partners benefit your program?
CC: We offer arts agencies and social service agencies a menu of volunteer tasks that we are able to employ within our program, in exchange for scheduled use of their space/free admission to their events and programs. It's a win-win scenario that has been working for many years! Of course it took years to build up confidence in our community, but now, agencies seek out partnerships with us!
AT: How successful have your participants been in selling their art?
CC: They have experienced a phenomenal amount of success. Sales were up more than 138% in 2007 for our gallery! At a time when Florida is experiencing tough economic times, we are seeing growth in our retail business.
AT: I know that Creative Clay has had a unique collaboration with international exchange for sometime now. How as that process better informed your clients and your organization’s leaders in developing a better program in your community?
CC: We have been fortunate enough to collect the best practices from the over 25 agencies in Japan that we have partnered with and to implement those ideas here in St. Petersburg. We try ideas and mold them to fit our needs. Our Japanese counterparts have done the same and so we believe that we have developed the best possible programs that can be offered in our unique cultural setting. Check out our website at www.creativeclay.org and click on the ARTLINK Japan button to learn more!
AT: For individuals how has working and selling their art benefited them?
CC: Financially, the members have been provided with an additional income stream that helps in their personal management with better nutrition choices, more access to healthcare and extra curricular activities. It's also a great ego booster to have persons spend their hard earned money on your creation!
AT: If you had this grant to do over again, is there anything that you would approach differently? Any lessons learned you would like to share?
CC: I cannot say that we would do anything differently, we just hope we can continue building our supported employment program through entrepreneurial means and that the community will keep supporting our valiant efforts!
AT: If folks are interested in visiting your gallery how do they find you!?
CC: www.creativeclay.org online or 1124 Central Avenue in the heart of the St. Petersburg arts district!
AT: Thanks for sharing your experience!
