Scenic City Clay Arts

reimagined

Creating a forever home for clay in Chattanooga

Scenic City Clay Arts is entering a transformative new chapter — one that will expand access, deepen community impact, and ensure that clay arts continue to thrive for the next generation.

Give today to support SCCA’s forever home!

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Building a Forever Home for Clay in Chattanooga

In 2026, Scenic City Clay Arts will purchase a 15,000 sq. ft. downtown facility — a space designed to meet Chattanooga’s growing demand for creativity, healing, and connection through clay.

Over the past decade, SCCA has grown exponentially while our space has stayed the same. With 300+ people on the membership waitlist, full classes every session, and no room for expansion – we’ve reached our limit.

Through the SCCA Reimagined Campaign, we’re raising $1 million to complete our down payment, equip classrooms and member workspaces, and invest in the tools that will sustain our programs for generations. This is just the beginning of a larger $5 million vision to fully fund and pay off our building — ensuring financial stability and a secure home for Chattanooga’s clay community.

This is more than a move — it’s a milestone. Together, we’re shaping the future of clay arts in Chattanooga.

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See the impact: Sandra’s Story

Sandra joined our Clay Makers Collective with no idea how much it would change her life — a free multi-week class, six months of membership, and the chance to showcase her work in a real gallery. What she found was so much more than pottery.

Sandra’s story is just one example of what happens when people are given room to create, rest, and reconnect with themselves. If you believe in the power of this kind of impact, we invite you to help us make it possible. Support our new space campaign and invest in the next generation of artists.

Donate now

Creating Together: Our Outreach Partnership with Girls Inc

Our partnership with Girls Inc brings clay, creativity, and possibility directly into their classrooms. For many of these students, this is their first introduction to ceramics — but what they gain reaches far beyond a finished piece. They’re learning patience. Problem-solving. Pride in their ideas. A sense of belonging in a creative space.

This is the heart of our outreach work: removing barriers to the arts and planting seeds of confidence and creativity in every corner of Chattanooga.

If you believe in expanding creative access for young people, we invite you to support our new space campaign and help us connect even more emerging artists to the power of clay.

Donate now

New space features

  • Dedicated outreach studio

    Outreach is at the heart of our organization - and we’re keeping it the top of our priorities in our new space with a dedicated outreach studio, large enough to accommodate up to 40 students per class.

  • Three total classrooms

    More classrooms = more class options and availability! Right now, we can only host 1 class at a time due to limited space. In a new space, we’ll be able to host 3 classes at a time!

  • Space for more members

    If you know anything about SCCA, then you know about the infamous waitlist. We currently have over 300 people patiently waiting to join our membership community, with a 12 month wait ahead of them. In a new space, we’ll be able to accommodate at least 500 members, and even have a 24/7 option for more access. Say goodbye to the waitlist!

  • Alternative firings

    Gas, soda, Raku, pit - you name it, we’ll have it! With a large kiln room area and an accessible outdoor space, we’ll be able have tons of different kiln firing options. We envision hosting special firing events, inviting both members and other local and regional potters to participate in these exciting firings.

  • Gallery & retail space

    In the front entrance of our new space, we’ll be able to have an extended retail + gallery space - perfect for showcasing work from our members, instructors, visiting artists and more. And of course, we’ll still have our Mug Shop for people who want to shop locally made pottery!

  • Outdoor courtyard

    We’ve been dreaming of having an outdoor space for our community! We envision our courtyard being used for community events like markets, pottery sales, and alternative firing events. We also want to reserve some space for members and students to rest, relax, and even create outside. We’ll even have a permanent Smash Booth if you need to let some rage out.

  • Convenient downtown location

    Located only 4 minutes from our current downtown studio and just moments away from an I-24 exit, we’ll be accessible to all Chattanoogans and regional visitors. We’re excited to be neighbors with thriving Chattanooga businesses, Southside neighborhoods and schools.

  • Dedicated staff work areas

    This new space solves a big problem for our staff - having space to work! With dedicated office spaces for our team, as well as work spaces for clay recycling, glaze mixing, and more, we’ll have plenty of space to innovate, create, and support our thriving studio.

  • Bar + yard area for a tenant

    We’re excited to be able to host a tenant in part of our space. A former dog park + bar will host a tenant who will not only bring in more traffic to SCCA, but will also provide vital additional income to SCCA through rent payments each month.

Support the space

Giving Tiers

  • $250 | Friend

    √ Recognition in annual report
    √ Thank-you card from SCCA staff
    √ 2 SCCA stickers

  • $500 | Advocate

    √ All Friend benefits
    √ Invitation to Ribbon Cutting ceremony
    √ Recognition on digital donor wall in new studio
    √ SCCA tote bag

  • $1000 | Champion

    √ All Advocate benefits
    √ Invitation to tour of new space
    √ SCCA t-shirt

  • $2,500 | Builder

    √ All Champion benefits
    √ Invitation to VIP event at Grand Opening
    √ Small Text Feature on Donor Recognition Wall
    √ Annual impact report mailed to you

  • $5,000 | Visionary

    √ All Builder benefits
    √ Exclusive quarterly calls with Executive Director
    √ Large Text Feature on Donor Recognition Wall
    √ Name featured on our website

  • $10,000 | Founder's Circle

    √ All Visionary benefits
    √ Annual lunch with Executive Director
    √ Recognition as Founding Member on Donor Recognition Wall
    √ Custom commemorative item

  • $100 | Supporter

    √ Recognition in annual report

Make a donation

Other Ways to Give

  • Create a Lasting Legacy

    Leave your mark through naming opportunities within our new space. From classrooms to kiln rooms, your generosity can shape a place where creativity, healing, and community will thrive for generations.

    Explore naming opportunities

  • Multiply your Impact

    Ask if your employer offers matching gifts to double or even triple your support. You can also explore stock gifts, donor-advised funds, or IRA rollovers to maximize your impact on our future.

    Explore matching & planned giving

Thank you to our Visionary and Founder’s Circle donors & foundations for their support!

Benwood Foundation
Lyndhurst Foundation
Hamico
Worthington Family Foundation
Susan Smartt
Elizabeth Asnes
Carol and Brian Quinn
Laura & Howard Grody
In Loving Memory of Mignonne Pearson

For press and media inquiries, please contact SCCA Associate Director, Emily Lloyd, at emily@sceniccityclayarts.org.

Your contribution helps fund essential supplies, equipment, and tools for Scenic City Clay Arts’ future facility, ensuring we can continue our mission of expanding access to clay through collaborative education and community engagement.

Scenic City Clay Arts is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; your donation is 100% tax deductible. All contributions are final and non-refundable. Donations will be used to support both the organization’s future facility and its ongoing operations. If the intended facility is not secured or plans change, funds will remain with Scenic City Clay Arts and be applied toward operational needs and future facility development. Thank you for supporting SCCA!