Concho Clay Studio
The Concho Clay Studio is a vital part of the educational programming offered by the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. The studio offers pottery and clay sculpture classes, workshops, and open studio access for artists of all experience levels.
Whether you're trying clay for the first time or continuing your ceramics practice, the Concho Clay Studio is a welcoming space to learn, experiment, and connect with other makers.
At the Concho Clay Studio, we create community through clay!
Ceramic Programming
Monthly workshops, typically an hour long, are instructor-led opportunities intended for clay makers of all skill levels, perfect for trying something new or completing a single project.
Ceramic courses are generally 8 weeks long and designed for those who want to grow their skills, explore techniques in depth, and create a body of work.
Open Studio provides flexible studio access for ceramic artists who want time to work independently with clay in a fully equipped ceramics studio. Open Studio access is automatically included with all 8-week course registrations, or can be purchased separately by qualified artists.
Quick Links
Ceramic Courses
SAMFA’s Concho Clay Studio offers regular 8-week courses for adults. Students can register for these classes at the clay studio to learn pottery and clay sculpture techniques. Classes meet once per week and are taught by experienced ceramic artists and instructors.
Open Studio Access is included with all 8-week ceramics classes. Current students may use open studio hours as part of their enrollment, and experienced artists can purchase an access pass only. This option is for more advanced ceramic students who do not need an instructor but would benefit from access to the studio and kilns to make their work.
Ceramic Workshops
The Concho Clay Studio at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts offers monthly ceramic workshops designed for all skill levels — whether you're trying clay for the first time or just looking for a fun creative night out.
Most workshops are an hour long and focus on a single project guided by one of our studio instructors. These short-format classes are perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to experience clay without committing to a full course.
We offer workshops for both adults and youth throughout the year. Notably, each month SAMFA offers two Friends Night Outs, a relaxed evening workshop for adults to create while enjoying time with friends, partners, or family.
upcoming Workshops
Angela Gallia Memorial Scholarship
From the time she was a kid and throughout her life, Angela played the guitar and sang, drew, painted, and made art, and adored her many pets - cats, dogs, and rabbits who all adored her right back. Angela was a graduate of the Arts Magnet High School in Dallas, attended Kansas City Art Institute and Northern Arizona University. She found her way to clay, and became a full-time potter and clay artist, creating clay works that were ornately illustrated with visual puns and stories of her life. She opened her studio annually to visitors and showed her work at many craft fairs around Texas including the Ceramics Invitational at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. Her work has been published in Clay Times, Ceramics Monthly, and several books. This scholarship is created in her memory to support young artists who aspire to work in clay.
or make a general donation to the Concho Clay Studio here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Reach out to Horacio Casillas, the Concho Clay Studio Manager, by clicking below or emailing ceramics@samfa.org.
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No. Any adult is welcome to sign up for our 8-week classes. Courses are recreational and do not have grades or mandatory projects.
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Regular 8-week courses and most workshops at the Clay Studio are for adults 18 years and older. Students 16 years and older may attend our classes if a parent or guardian signs up with them. The Concho Clay Studio partners with SAMFA’s Education Studio for STEAM Sculpting, our youth ceramics program, typically for Family Day.
Visit samfa.org/education for more information, email education@samfa.org.
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Please sign up anyway! Concho Clay Studio offers ways to make up missed classes through open studio or by sitting in on a different class. Contact ceramics@samfa.org with any questions.
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Yes! The Concho Clay Studio offers 8-week ceramics courses for adults that run continuously with back-to-back sessions. There is often a week or two of maintenance between sessions. Look for upcoming session dates and follow us on social media @conchoclay, and sign up for our newsletter on this page to be notified when registration opens.
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Sign up and pay for multiple tickets to a class on the course listings on our website. Then email ceramics@samfa.org with contact information for all students, including name, email, and phone number.
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You may receive a full refund for classes up to 24 hours prior to the start of class. 50% refunds are available until the 4th class day. After the 4th class, no refunds can be issued.
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Yes! SAMFA members receive discounts on all classes, open studio, workshops, and clay purchases. Become a member at samfa.org/support. We also offer early-bird registration discounts that combine with member discounts. Military and seniors receive discounts on open studio, workshops, and clay purchases.
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Open Studio is a flexible, self-paced option for ceramic artists who want to work independently in a fully equipped clay studio. It’s available to adults (18+) who have completed at least one 8-week ceramics course with the Concho Clay Studio.
Whether you’re continuing your clay journey after a class or just want dedicated time to create, Open Studio gives you access to the tools, space, and firings you need.
Registration for 8-week courses always includes open studio access. Learn more at samfa.org/open-studio.
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Volunteer slots are currently filled, but check with our Education Studio for exciting volunteer opportunities!
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Yes. The Clay Studio has a paid internship position available for ASU art students who need college credit. Email ceramics@samfa.org or visit samfa.org/concho-clay-studio-internship-program for more information.
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Visit the Education Studio during our open hours to pick up ceramic pieces from kids’ classes, camps, or family clay days. Email education@samfa.org with any questions.
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All date night participants are sent an email to pick up their work within two weeks after the event. If work is not picked up within two weeks of the email date, the work becomes property of the Concho Clay Studio and there is no guarantee that we will still have the pieces. Pick up for date night is in the Concho Clay Studio during open studio hours. If you participated in a downtown date night at a location other than the Concho Clay Studio, your pieces will be picked up at that location.
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Thank you for your interest in keeping the clay community alive in San Angelo! Donate to the Concho Clay Studio by clicking here, or click here to donate to the Angela Gallia Scholarship fund.
Donations are welcome to support our outreach programs and scholarships. Please send checks made out to San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and address them to:
Concho Clay Studio
1 Love Street
San Angelo, TX 76903
Please include a note describing the donation and its preferred use. You can also donate online to the Clay Studio or our scholarship fund at samfa.org/support.
We also accept gently used ceramic equipment, glazes, and labeled material donations. Contact ceramics@samfa.org with any questions or to schedule a drop-off.