Celebrating 60 years of clay, connection,
and creativity!

Watch the video to hear personal NCECA stories from artists and educators whose voices have shaped this vibrant community.

NCECA celebrates its 60th Anniversary with the 2026 Volumes Conference in Detroit. Be a part of the global clay community gathering to reflect, connect, and share in six decades of creativity and innovation. Watch the video to hear personal NCECA stories from artists and educators whose voices have shaped this vibrant community.

This 60th Anniversary celebration is just beginning!
Scroll below to learn more about special programming and experiences that will bring clay to life in 2026. Help us celebrate the field's legacy and invest in its future!

Visit Shaping Clay to Shape the Future and build your ceramics on your ceramics collection. This 60th Anniversary exhibition highlights works by historic and contemporary makers to sustain NCECA's mission.

Attend the first-ever Clay in Performance series, through which artists activate clay through movement, sound, and collective action!

Donate and purchase at the Annual NCECA Cup Exhibition & Sale, made possible through generous artist contributions.

Make a donation of $60 or find a hidden tile through our scavenger hunt to become eligible for a Studio Giveaway supported by generous ceramic artists, manufacturers, and distributors.

Shaping Clay to Shape the Future

Kensuke Yamada, 60th Anniversary Exhibition

NCECA 60th Anniversary Exhibition
Shaping Clay to Share the Future
Huntington Place Convention Center
Hall C, Gallery Expo,

Reception: Tuesday, Mar 24, 6:30pm–8:00pm

NCECA celebrates its 60th anniversary with this exhibition and collecting opportunity highlighting two legacy programs: Emerging Artists and Demonstrating Artists. Over 70 artists have donated works to ignite NCECA's next 60 years.

Concurrent to this roster, NCECA is also featuring works by historic makers drawn from the collection of Mary Jane Edwards, Fellow of the Council and Past President of NCECA. Objects by Karen Karnes, Toshiko Takaezu, Ted Randall, Robert Turner, Chris Gustin, Val Cushing, Michael Simon, and others will be available for viewing and collecting.

All purchases benefit NCECA’s future programs and support its mission.

Clay in Performance

Clay in Performance • NEW IN 2026
Huntington Place Convention Center

HALL E1 Thursday, 10:00am–4:45pm
ATRIUM Friday, 9:00am–4:30pm

Curated by Raheleh Filsoofi

The inaugural Clay in Performance at NCECA brings body and material into shared space. Artists activate clay beyond object making through performance, sound, score, ritual, spoken text, and collective action.

Clay becomes witness and participant, carrying histories of bodies, place, labor, movement, and care, and asking what it means to think and work with clay rather than through domination. Clay in Performance schedule below.

NCECA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Studio Giveaway & Scavenger Hunt!

NCECA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Studio Giveaway and Scavenger Hunt!

Make a gift to NCECA of $60.00 or more between March 25–March 28, 2026, to receive one entry into NCECA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Studio Giveaway drawing. Your donation supports NCECA’s mission to advance education, access, and opportunity for ceramic artists.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at AMACO brent, Cornell Studio Supply, DiamondCore Tools, GR Pottery Forms, Nidec-Shimpo, Skutt Ceramic Products, and Standard Clay. One winner will be randomly selected to receive these gifts!

(1) AMACO brent wheel, underglazes, glazes
(1) Cornell Studio Supply $500 Gift Card
(1) DiamondCore Tools FP Diamond Set and T Diamond Set
(1) GR Pottery Forms tools, forms, and a stack pack
(1) Nidec-Shimpo VL- Whisper Wheel, BW-22LC banding wheel, and BW-25HC banding wheel
(1) Skutt Ceramic Products KMT-822 Kiln
(1) Standard Clay (A selection of clay and glazes)

Donate $60 or more today for a chance to win these amazing gifts!

DONATE $60.00

Two ways to enter the giveaway:

1. DONATE! Make a gift to NCECA of $60.00 or more between March 25–March 28, 2026, to receive one entry into NCECA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Studio Giveaway drawing! Your donation supports NCECA’s mission to advance education, access, and opportunity for ceramic artists. Scan the QR code to visit nceca.net/donate and donate to enter.

2. SCAVENGER HUNT! Follow @nceca_scavenger_hunt on Instagram for clues, explore the city of Detroit, and discover hidden ceramic tiles! Participants who find a Scavenger Hunt tile can redeem it at the RISD table in the Resource Hall on Friday, March 27, 11:00 AM–4:00 PM, for one complimentary entry into the giveaway.