First Friday Holiday Art Market

The Pinellas County Schools’ students that attend Creative Clay’s Transition Program will host a holiday market, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  The outdoor market is run by the student artists and held in Creative Clay’s courtyard.

Transition students will sell ceramic snowmen, holiday wine bags, hand-painted and printed holiday cards, one-of-a-kind ornaments, canvas paintings, wrapping paper, jewelry, and other ceramic pieces that make great gifts.

This is our class’s favorite market of the year, and they have been working so hard to make it special,” said Amanda Drewes, ESE Teacher/Extended Transition. “They are excited to interact with customers and share their passion with the community.”

Transition student Cory will perform, as well as Creative Clay Community Arts Program Manager Emily Turnage. There will be a food truck available, which will be announced soon. Tables with Creative Thrift items available as well. This is an outdoor event, but masks are required inside the market.

Creative Clay’s vision is to make the arts accessible to all. Its mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through access to the arts by providing expressive, educational, and vocational experiences.

Creative Clay’s core program is its Community Arts Program, which serves 50-60 adult artists with neuro-differences each week. Through the implementation of additional offerings, such as the inclusive Art Around the World summer camp, Summer Studio for older teens and young adults, Artlink employment program, Creative Care Arts in Wellness outreach program, and its Pinellas County Schools’ partnership Transition program, individuals of all ages and abilities are mentored, taught and empowered to become working artists who actively create, market and sell their work. The end result is that a formerly stigmatized population, through the art it creates and sells, demystifies stereotypes surrounding those with disabilities and creates a culture of acceptance throughout the community.