Clay Art Center

Category: Studio Also called: CAC; Clay Art Center Port Chester Last checked: 2026-09-07

What it is

Clay Art Center is a community ceramics school and studio in Port Chester, NY. Its official membership and About copy describe a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the advancement and practice of the ceramic arts, with weekly adult and youth classes, one-time clay experiences, artist studios, exhibitions, a gallery and shop, and free public guided tours. It is not a guild and not a commercial clay manufacturer.

Who it’s for

Adults and youth (ages 6+) who want weekly wheel, handbuilding, or sculpture classes; beginners seeking one-time Maker Night, Family Wheel Night, or Saturday Clay; members who want early registration and shop discounts; and visitors who want the gallery/shop or Wednesday guided tours. Open studio is for currently enrolled weekly students only (reservation, first-come, first-served) — the Student FAQ says there is no drop-in studio program for non-enrolled people.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party Port Chester ceramics education and studio program with a printed Beech Street address, Fall 2026 session dates, printed tuition and membership dues, gallery hours, and clear classroom/open-studio rules.

• Footer and Visit page (checked 2026-09-07): 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573; phone (914) 937-2047; email mail@clayartcenter.org. Gallery & Shop hours: Monday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Visit page: free public Guided Exhibition & Studio Tours every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. (no appointment); classrooms named Red Studio, Purple Studio (Annex), Yellow Studio (ADA accessible for classes), and Independent Study studio. Co-founded in 1957 by Katherine Choy and Henry Okamoto (homepage).
• Fall Session A registration page: term Wednesday, September 9 – Tuesday, October 27, 2026; Class Preview July 22; Member-Only Registration August 5, 2026, 7:30 a.m.; Non-Member Registration August 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m. Homepage exhibition: Functional Fall: Handled With Care, September 1 – October 17, 2026; annual benefit Hand in Hand, Saturday October 17, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
• Weekly Classes page (Fall Session A, checked today): printed tuition examples include Surface Design: Pattern and color / Fridays 1pm — $403.00; Thrown and Altered / Tuesdays 6pm — $385.00; other sections listed at $330 or $385 for 6–7 week formats (many marked Waitlist). Student FAQ: weekly adult tuition covers instruction and a selection of studio-made glazes; clay, tools, and firing fees are not included unless noted; firing example ~$2–3 for a standard mug.
• One-Time Classes page: Maker Night (ages 17+) $75.00; Family Wheel Night (ages 10+) $60.00; Saturday Clay (ages 6+) $42.00. Advance online registration required; no drop-ins.
• Memberships page: Junior/Senior $75; Individual $85; Dual $150; Family $225; Supporter $300; Collector $500; Benefactor $1,000 annually (1 year from month of purchase). Benefits include early multi-week registration and 10% off in-person Shop purchases (excludes exhibitions, clay, tools, firing fees, program costs, online purchases). Membership does not include studio access outside weekly class / open-studio opportunities.

Hours, tuition, waitlist status, and membership dues above are what the official pages showed on the check date. They can change. Use the live class and membership pages before treating any figure as fixed.

Official URL

https://www.clayartcenter.org/

Visit / hours / classrooms: https://www.clayartcenter.org/visit

Weekly classes (Fall Session A 2026): https://www.clayartcenter.org/classproducts

Fall Session A registration dates: https://www.clayartcenter.org/events-at-clayartcenter/2026/7/registration-for-weekly-clay-classes-fall-session-a

One-time classes: https://www.clayartcenter.org/one-time-classes

Student FAQ: https://www.clayartcenter.org/student-faq

Memberships: https://www.clayartcenter.org/memberships

Location

Clay Art Center, 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. Phone (914) 937-2047. Gallery & Shop: Monday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Visit page: about a 7–10 minute walk from Port Chester Metro-North Station; shared public parking lot with free three-hour spaces (check live map/PDF).

This is a class, gallery, and enrolled-student studio address, not a drop-in pottery supply warehouse.

Notes

• Category is Studio. Community ceramics school / open studio for enrolled weekly students, with gallery and shop. Not a guild and not a clay manufacturer.
• Fall 2026 dates, tuition, membership dues, and waitlist status are transcribed from official pages checked on 2026-09-07 and may change.
• Not affiliated with Clay Plaza.
• No Clay Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: When is Fall Session A 2026, and how do I register?
A: Official registration page: Fall Session A runs Wednesday, September 9 through Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Member-only registration began August 5, 2026; non-member registration August 7, 2026. Student FAQ: registration is website-only (www.clayartcenter.org); seats are not held in the cart until checkout/payment completes.

Q: How much do classes and memberships cost?
A: Pages checked 2026-09-07 print weekly Fall Session A examples such as $330–$403 for multi-week adult sections (e.g. Thrown and Altered $385; Surface Design $403). One-time: Maker Night $75, Family Wheel Night $60, Saturday Clay $42. Memberships start at Junior/Senior $75 and Individual $85 annually. Confirm live prices; clay/tools/firing are usually extra for weekly adult courses.

Q: Can I drop in or use open studio without a weekly class?
A: No. Visit and Student FAQ say classes require advance online registration and there are no drop-in classes. Open studio is only for students registered in a weekly course, by reservation, first-come, first-served. Membership alone does not include studio access outside class/open-studio opportunities.