Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Clay Studio of Missoula
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 1106 Hawthorne St
City: MISSOULA
State: MT
Postal Code: 59802
Main Phone: 4065430509
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.theclaystudioofmissoula.org/
Employer ID Number: 810523194
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) non profit organization

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 28, 2024
Requested Amount: 5000

Project Title: CSoM After School & Outreach Program
Project Description:

CSoM’s goal is to be an accessible resource in clay to the community we serve. Providing exposure to arts experiences and meaningful instruction, especially to local underserved populations, has been a growing priority of our organization. Our after-school program currently serves three schools in Missoula five days per week. In 2023 the program served 225 K-12 students. In 2024 we added free programming alongside other nonprofit partners, bringing arts experiences to youth our after-school portion is unable to reach.
We provide K-12 Grade Missoula area students immersive experiences in the visual arts, by improving their understanding of contemporary fine art and providing hands-on experiences creating works in clay. Students are in a healthy, safe environment while learning about visual art, the robust ceramics community in Montana, and themselves as emotional creative beings. Though multifaceted in nature, strategies to achieve program goals are largely achieved through a well-curated curriculum. Students gain valuable time practicing visual arts outside of school curriculum which in many cases can only provide students with dedicated art lessons once per month. They experience the multicultural nature of ceramics and investigate diverse concepts, led by an active contemporary artist. CSoM provides the opportunity for students to learn from artists working in the ceramic field, who are equally committed to provide an exciting and educational experience in the classroom.
To provide effective and accessible after school programming we partner with Missoula Parks & Recreation to gain a platform directly within MCPS schools and with students in the highest need in our regional Title 1 Public Schools. For our Outreach Workshops, we partner with organizations like Soft Landing, Watson Children’s Shelter, Boys and Girls Club, and the Missoula Food Bank Network to provide clay arts experiences to underserved youth populations in our community.

Total Project Budget: 41200

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): 36200

Project Duration: Jan-Dec 2025
Geographical Area Served: Missoula, Montana
Age Group To Be Served: K-12 (ages 5-18)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms
Contact First Name: Shalene
Contact Last Name: Valenzuela
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 4065430509
Contact Email: director@theclaystudioofmissoula.org