New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists

Category: Guild Also called: NMPCA; New Mexico Potters & Clay Artists; Celebration of Clay (NMPCA’s annual member exhibition) Last checked: 2026-09-09

What it is

New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists is a statewide member association for potters and clay artists. The homepage states that the goals of the organization are to promote excellence and creativity in the clay arts, and to further their understanding and appreciation throughout New Mexico, by fostering educational programs, arranging exhibition opportunities, and providing a communication forum for the exchange of ideas, information and inspiration. The site identifies NMPCA as a 501(c)(3) organization and notes members in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Cuba, Las Cruces, and throughout the state. It is not a commercial clay supplier and it is not a drop-in teaching studio with its own permanent public wheel room as its primary identity.

Who it’s for

Beginners through established ceramicists in New Mexico (and participants who join for statewide exhibits, the Clay Studio Tour, Ghost Ranch workshops, newsletters, and scholarships). Membership pages describe an active, sharing community of potters and clay artists who sponsor statewide exhibits, promote New Mexico ceramicists, maintain member studio pages, hold an annual Ghost Ranch workshop, share a weekly newsletter, and award educational scholarships.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party New Mexico potters’ and clay artists’ association site with printed membership dues, a dated 2026 Celebration of Clay exhibition schedule, and a dated 2026 Ghost Ranch workshop with printed member/non-member fees — not a scraped directory card.

• Membership (checked 2026-09-09): printed levels Regular Individual $30.00; Studio Tour $45.00; Student $10.00; Student Studio Tour $25.00. Benefits printed on the same page: statewide exhibits; promotion of New Mexico ceramicists; member studio pages; annual Ghost Ranch workshop; weekly newsletter and articles/interviews; educational scholarships.
• Celebration of Clay 2026 exhibit page (COC2026): theme Clay Speaks of Home; hosted with Santa Fe Community College Visual Arts Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico; exhibit open March 5 to April 8, 2026 (page notes closed March 30 to April 3 for Spring Break); Opening Reception March 5, 4–6 PM. Member gallery of works is published on the same official exhibit page (page notes 80 photos updated 25 Jan 2026).
• Celebration of Clay 2026 registration/info page: venue printed Santa Fe Community College Visual Arts Gallery, 6401 Richards Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87508; registration window December 15, 2025 – January 23, 2026 (registration marked closed on the check date); up to 70 entries, up to two pieces per member; non-refundable entry fee $26 per piece or $10 per piece for full-time students; awards printed include Best of Show $250, UNM Arita Porcelain Award $100, Coyote Color in Clay Award $100, and three Merit Awards $100 each. Note: that info page’s Spring Break closed-window wording differs slightly from the live COC2026 exhibit page — use the live exhibit page for public visit dates.
• 2026 NMPCA Workshop: Ralph Scala, Building Courage in Content and Craft, August 21–23, 2026, at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico. Printed workshop fees: NMPCA members $250; non-members $325 (accommodations and meals extra, with Ghost Ranch lodging/meal package options printed on the event page). Registration deadline printed July 10, 2026; registration marked closed / spaces left 0 on the check date.
• Homepage (checked 2026-09-09): mailing address PO Box 26811, Albuquerque, NM 87125; Clay Studio Tour described as a membership benefit with member studio pages on the site.

Dues, exhibition dates, and workshop fees above are what the official pages showed on the check date. They can change. Confirm on the live Membership, COC2026, and workshop event pages before joining or treating any date/fee as fixed.

Official URL

https://www.nmpotters.org/

Membership levels & dues: https://www.nmpotters.org/Membership

Celebration of Clay 2026 exhibit: https://www.nmpotters.org/COC2026

Celebration of Clay 2026 registration/info: https://www.nmpotters.org/page-1800794

2026 Ghost Ranch workshop (Ralph Scala): https://www.nmpotters.org/event-6632388

Location

Statewide membership association serving New Mexico clay artists (homepage cites members in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Cuba, Las Cruces, and throughout the state). Public mailing address printed on the homepage: PO Box 26811, Albuquerque, NM 87125. No permanent public member-studio street address is the organization’s primary identity on the pages checked.

Major 2026 public program addresses as printed: Celebration of Clay at Santa Fe Community College Visual Arts Gallery, 6401 Richards Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87508 (March 5–April 8, 2026); annual workshop at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico (August 21–23, 2026).

Do not treat NMPCA as a walk-in classroom enrollment desk or a clay supply warehouse.

Notes

• Category is Guild. Member pottery/ceramics association with printed dues, statewide exhibitions, Ghost Ranch education workshop, scholarships, newsletter, and member studio-tour pages. Not a teaching-studio brand and not a clay manufacturer.
• 2026 Celebration of Clay dates, entry fees, workshop dollar amounts, and membership dues are transcribed from official pages checked on 2026-09-09 and may change. Where two COC pages disagree on Spring Break closed dates, prefer the live COC2026 exhibit page for visitors.
• Not affiliated with Clay Plaza.
• No Clay Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: Who can join, and what are the dues?
A: Membership page: open to potters and clay artists from beginners to established ceramicists. Printed levels checked 2026-09-09: Regular Individual $30, Studio Tour $45, Student $10, Student Studio Tour $25. Confirm live amounts at https://www.nmpotters.org/Membership

Q: When and where is Celebration of Clay 2026?
A: Official COC2026 exhibit page: Santa Fe Community College Visual Arts Gallery, Santa Fe, NM; open March 5–April 8, 2026 (page notes closed March 30–April 3 for Spring Break); Opening Reception March 5, 4–6 PM; theme Clay Speaks of Home. Confirm the live exhibit page before visiting.

Q: Does NMPCA run a public drop-in pottery studio?
A: No permanent public open-studio classroom brand is the association’s primary identity on the homepage or Membership pages. NMPCA is a statewide member association that holds exhibitions, Ghost Ranch workshops, scholarships, and a member Clay Studio Tour. For weekly class-studio practice, use a local teaching studio or your own workspace; join NMPCA for association benefits and exhibition/workshop eligibility, not as a substitute for a class-studio membership.