This six-week ceramics apprenticeship in partnership with Berkshire Art Center offers young people from Railroad Street Youth Project with hands-on experience in studio ceramics alongside real work responsibilities. The program blends creative skill-building with work readiness, responsibility, and exposure to the local arts ecosystem.

Goals

• Provide hands-on ceramics and studio experience in a professional arts setting

• Build work readiness skills through shared responsibility and contribution

• Support creative expression, patience, and follow-through

Program Structure

• Open to ages 14 - 25

• Duration: 6 weeks

• Schedule: Mondays, 3:30–5:30 PM

• Start date: February 23rd

• Format: ~50% work-based tasks (studio support, materials handling, cleanup, preparation) and ~50% ceramics learning and creative practice

Learning Experience

• Learn foundational ceramics skills (clay handling, basic forms, glazing concepts)

• Understand studio operations and shared responsibility in an arts workspace

• Engage in work that may be messy, physical, and sensory-rich (e.g., moldy clay, strong smells)

• Build comfort with creative risk-taking, patience, and process-oriented work.

Participants should expect to get dirty and wear clothes appropriate for studio work.