The North Carolina Pottery Center is proud to be a TAPS site. Since 2005, we have connected Seagrove Elementary students and their families with the clay beneath their feet, introducing them to the strong pottery tradition in their hometown.  It has been a joy to watch our TAPS family grow!

The TAPS funding mentioned above annually supports two 5th-grade after-school pottery workshop sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring. A total of 20 fifth graders from Seagrove Elementary School are accepted into the program annually. The North Carolina Pottery Center hosts two sessions of up to 10 students each, one session in the fall and one in the spring. Classes meet after school once weekly for ten weeks. Students learn the basics of traditional wheel turning, hand building, and glazing, along with the history of the area’s ceramic tradition.

North Carolina communities have always fostered shared artistic traditions. Indigenous arts such as carving, basket making, and storytelling have characterized North Carolina Native American communities for thousands of years. Five hundred years of immigration have introduced numerous traditional arts that distinguish communities of European, African, and Asian descent. New traditional arts develop as communities interact with and adapt to each other. The North Carolina Arts Council supports the continued performance, transmission, and appreciation of traditional arts throughout the state.

Through the North Carolina Arts Council, TAPS provides community organizations with crucial funding for after-school programs that connect North Carolina students with local traditional artists. This funding plays a vital role in preserving and promoting our cultural heritage. Students receive instruction in an art form that has deep cultural roots in their community, taught by experts utilizing traditional instructional techniques.