The Clay Forward Campaign was started by members concerned about keeping the relationship between the NMPCA and Ghost Ranch vital. Our organization has a continuing commitment to the

Ghost Ranch Ceramic Arts Program. Workshops and activities at the ranch are consistently mentioned as top interests by members in surveys and conversations. We wanted to show significant support in the community for keeping the ceramic arts program at the ranch and to give financial support after the debilitating effects of the pandemic.

On June 15, 2022, we initiated a contribution campaign titled “Clay Forward, to Uplift the Ceramic Arts at Ghost Ranch”.

We pursued this initiative because of our belief that working in clay is one of the most important creative endeavors for anyone. Creative clay activities, especially in the environment of Ghost Ranch, are an important experience for everyone, young and old, who participates in these experiences. The combination of geology and pottery histories of the area gives the ranch an edge that no other place offers. Our members have had life-changing experiences at the ranch, and we want to insure this kind of creative expression is available in the future for everyone.

We called the campaign “Clay Forward” and offered premiums of t-shirts and aprons imprinted with the logo of our 2022 all-member Exhibition. Our board decided to donate the t-shirt printing and shipping costs for the incentives (another $2000). Our goal was to raise $8,000 for the Ranch. We are very proud that we were able to achieve our goal in less than five months. Overall, we received donations from 130 people, with 3 individuals giving donations over $500 and many donations over the minimum.

Goal: $8,000 - Attained: $8,500 from 130 donors A check for $8500 is presented to Ghost Ranch Director, Paul Fogg, on January 19, 2023.

Follow-on and associated activities include articles in The Slip Trail, social media postings, celebratory lunch with Paul Fogg and others at Ghost Ranch, commemorative tile installation, and Clay Forward 2: Workshop

Scholarships. For people attending the NMPCA Annual Meeting, contributors to this fund will receive a t- shirt. This special fund will enable more scholarships to be offered to participants in future NMPCA workshops.

Members of the Clay Forward Committee are Judy Nelson-Moore, Luisa Baldinger, Cirrelda Snider-Bryan, and Merlene Walker.