The Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio and Eastern Iowa Arts Academy have formed a collaborative partnership to expand ceramics and warm glass education throughout Eastern Iowa.
Beginning this spring, ICCGS will deliver hands-on ceramics and glass workshops at Eastern Iowa Arts Academy’s studio spaces. Programming will include handbuilding, glass fusing and specialized short summer courses designed to introduce participants to clay and glass.
“This partnership allows us to reach new communities and further our mission of providing high-quality arts education to Eastern Iowa,” said Dana Danley-Fortier, director of communications and outreach at ICCGS. “Eastern Iowa Arts Academy has cultivated a vibrant learning environment, and we’re excited to bring our medium-specific expertise into that space. With larger classrooms, it also means we can try out new partner programs, where two people can work together to create one fantastic project.”
Heather Wagner, executive director of Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, said the collaboration will expand opportunities for students.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio into our space,” Wagner said. “This collaboration opens new doors for hands-on learning in ceramics and glass while giving our students access to experiences that are both skill building and creatively inspiring, strengthening our community through the arts.”
Registration for the first round of joint workshops will open later this month. The first warm glass workshop is scheduled for March 28 at EIAA.
Both organizations are planning a second phase of collaboration in the fall featuring cross-disciplinary project opportunities. These projects will combine Eastern Iowa Arts Academy’s visual art expertise with ceramic and warm glass processes from ICCGS, allowing students to create multi-step works that bridge two-dimensional and three-dimensional techniques.
More information about upcoming programs is available at easterniowaartsacademy.org or iowaceramicscenter.org/community-events.
