Archie Bray Foundation

THE ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS WAS FOUNDED IN 1951 BY BRICKMAKER ARCHIE BRAY, WHO INTENDED IT TO BE "A PLACE TO MAKE AVAILABLE FOR ALL WHO ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE BRANCHES OF THE CERAMIC ARTS, A FINE PLACE TO WORK." ITS PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT STIMULATES CREATIVE WORK IN CERAMICS.

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION (THE "FOUNDATION") IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT STIMULATES CREATIVE WORK IN CERAMICS - FOR ARTISTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, CHILDREN, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, COLLECTORS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. BEGINNING IN 1951, THE FOUNDATION WAS THE FIRST RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES DEVOTED TO CERAMICS. THROUGH A YEAR-ROUND RESIDENCY PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES STUDIO SPACE AND FACILITIES FOR CERAMIC ARTISTS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND AESTHETIC APPROACHES. THE BRAY SERVES BOTH THE FIELD OF CERAMIC ARTS AS WELL AS THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS, A CERAMIC SUPPLY, PUBLIC EVENTS AND LECTURES, SCHOOL TOURS AND A PERMANENT COLLECTION OF CERAMICS. ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, THE BRAY HAS SERVED THE FIELD OF CERAMICS BY BRINGING TOGETHER ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH TALENT, CURIOSITY AND COMMITMENT AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE FACILITIES AND FREEDOM TO EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVE VOICES. ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVE FREE STUDIO SPACE, EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES, DISCOUNTED MATERIALS, ACCESS TO A CLAY MANUFACTURING FACILITY TO RESEARCH, EXPERIMENT AND REFINE CERAMIC MATERIALS TO SUIT A VARIETY OF ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND ACCESS TO ONE OF THE TOP KILN FIRING FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS 10 LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES THAT LAST FOR UP TO TWO YEARS, 10 SUMMER RESIDENCIES, AND 10-15 SHORT-TERM RESIDENCIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. RESIDENTS ARE SELECTED FROM A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE POOL OF APPLICANTS BY A ROTATING PANEL OF THREE REVIEWERS INCLUDING THE RESIDENT ARTIST DIRECTOR. ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVE FREE STUDIO SPACE, EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES, DISCOUNTED MATERIALS, AND ACCESS TO ONE OF THE TOP KILN FIRING FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. DEDICATED TO SERVING THE MONTANA AND HELENA COMMUNITIES, THE FOUNDATION HOSTS AN ANNUAL EXHIBITION SERIES WHICH IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, COMMUNITY CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, AND A WORKSHOP PROGRAM TAUGHT BY ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. SITE-SPECIFIC SCULPTURES MADE BY RESIDENT ARTISTS ARE FEATURED THROUGHOUT THE 26-ACRE CAMPUS WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR A GUIDED WALKING TOUR DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AS WELL AS SCHOOL GROUPS.