On Saturday, June 6, Baltimore’s ceramics community gathered at The Peale for an afternoon of creativity, collaboration, and celebration as we looked ahead to an exciting milestone: Baltimore hosting the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 61st Annual Conference from March 10-13, 2027.
The NCECA Community Event brought together artists, educators, students, cultural organizations, and community members to learn more about the conference and the many local partners working to make a welcoming and inspiring conference for thousands of ceramic artists from across the country traveling to Baltimore.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors explored hands-on clay activities, watched demonstrations by local artists and organizations, and connected with the vibrant network of studios, schools, museums, and arts organizations that make Baltimore’s ceramics scene so unique. Representatives from NCECA’s board and conference leadership shared their vision for the 2027 conference, highlighting the opportunities for artistic exchange, community engagement, and cultural tourism that the event will bring to our city.
The event also showcased the incredible strength of collaboration within Baltimore’s arts community. We were proud to celebrate and connect with fellow community partners, including Baltimore Clayworks, Chesapeake Art Center, Clayworks Supplies, Community College of Baltimore County, Creative Alliance, Empact Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, Mudhouse Pottery Studio, the Peale, Potter’s Guild of Baltimore, Seeing Green Studio, Standard Clay Company, Towson University, and The Walters Art Museum.
In partnership with Empact Art, attendees engaged in a hands-on ceramic tile-making activity that will become part of a new mosaic seating installation planned for Baltimore Clayworks’ new Sacred Place, The Gathering Ground, later this year. The mosaic design, developed by collaborating artists at Empact Art with input gathered from community members, evokes the blues and greens of a healthy waterway. Inspired by the nearby Jones Falls, the installation serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and care for Baltimore’s waterways and natural spaces. The tile-making station at the NCECA Community Event offered an opportunity for community members to leave their mark on this collaborative public artwork.
The mosaic bench installation is a Gutierrez Memorial Fund Legacy Project. Additional support was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Blue Water Baltimore, the Mount Washington Improvement Association and Nature Sacred.
As Baltimore prepares to welcome the national ceramics community in 2027, the NCECA Community Event served as a powerful reminder that our city’s greatest strength lies in its people. The enthusiasm, generosity, and creativity on display throughout the afternoon reflected the spirit that makes Baltimore’s arts community so special. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, demonstrated, created, and shared their vision for the future. We look forward to continuing this journey together as we prepare to welcome NCECA to Baltimore in 2027.
