Creative Clay
Creative Clay is a 501c3 nonprofit art center in St. Petersburg, Florida, founded in 1995, that provides art education, vocational training, and exhibition opportunities for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities through studio programs, a gallery, and a thrift store.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSt. Petersburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Creative Clay does
Creative Clay is a 501c3 nonprofit art center founded in 1995 in St. Petersburg, Florida, by current CEO Kim Dohrman. The organization serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and to a lesser extent school-age children, through expressive, educational, and vocational arts programming. Its stated mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through expressive, educational, and vocational experiences in the arts.
The core product portfolio centers on the Community Arts Program, providing professional artist mentorship in a studio environment; the Transition Program, a 17-year vocational partnership with Pinellas County Schools serving 18-22 year olds; and Artlink, an employment and mentorship program connecting member artists to professional exhibition and collaboration opportunities. Adjacent offerings include Creative Care, Open Studio, and a discontinued inclusive Summer Studio camp. There are no proprietary technology products; the platform is operational (studios, an on-site Good Folk Gallery, the Creative Thrift retail space) rather than software-driven. Distribution runs through owned retail (Good Folk Gallery, Creative Thrift), regional museum and gallery consignment partnerships (Dalí Museum, Tampa Museum of Art, Morean, Imagine, Leepa-Rattner, Florida CraftArt), and community events such as First Night St. Pete and Second Saturday ArtWalk.
The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit mix typical of community arts organizations: program fees ($65/day private pay for Community Arts Program, supplemented by Medicaid Waiver and scholarships), gallery art sales at 50% commission to member artists, thrift-store retail (Creative Thrift), donations and grants (Good Folk Society monthly giving, Visionary Society legacy giving, corporate sponsorships), and event revenue (Good Folk Fest, Art Markets). The organization employs 20+ staff including teaching artists, program directors, and a development coordinator, and reports no parent company, no VC backing, and no publicly disclosed financials.
Creative Clay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Clay
- Legal name
- Creative Clay, Inc.
- Website
- https://creativeclay.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Creative Clay is a 501c3 nonprofit art center in St. Petersburg, Florida, founded in 1995, that provides art education, vocational training, and exhibition opportunities for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities through studio programs, a gallery, and a thrift store.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Clay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Arts Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)
- SIC
- Pottery & Related Products (3260)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)
Keywords
Where Creative Clay is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Petersburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Creative Clay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Fees from Community Arts Program ($65/day private pay), supported by Medicaid Waiver funding and scholarships for qualifying participants
- Gallery Art Sales: Sale of artwork created by member artists through Good Folk Gallery with 50% commission going to artists
- Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundation grants supporting nonprofit operations
- Creative Thrift Store: Revenue from thrift store sales providing vocational training opportunities
- Event Revenue: Revenue from events including Art Markets, exhibitions, and community programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Community Arts Program - Daily Rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Creative Clay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Clay is a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization that provides expressive, educational, and vocational art programming for people with disabilities, primarily adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Its core offering is the Community Arts Program, which delivers professional artist mentorship in a studio environment and channels member artwork through its Good Folk Gallery, where artists earn 50% commission on sales.
Product overview
Creative Clay is a nonprofit arts organization offering a portfolio of programs centered on helping people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through expressive, educational, and vocational experiences in the arts. The core offerings include the Community Arts Program (providing studio-based mentorship in visual and performing arts for adults with disabilities), the Transition Program (vocational training for young adults with disabilities), and Artlink (employment mentorship connecting artists to professional opportunities). Related programs include the Good Folk Gallery (on-site and virtual gallery where member artists sell their work), Creative Thrift (pay-what-you-can art supply store), Summer Studio (inclusive summer camp), Good Folk Society (recurring giving program with artist benefits), Visionary Society (planned giving), and Good Folk Fest (annual arts and music festival). Member artists earn 50% commission on sold artwork and have opportunities to exhibit at local museums, galleries, and cultural venues throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community Arts Program Core program providing professional artist mentorship in performing and visual arts to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in a studio environment; member artwork may be exhibited and sold through the Good Folk Gallery with member artists earning 50% commission.
- Artlink Employment and mentorship program connecting Creative Clay artists with disabilities to professional opportunities and public audiences through collaborative projects with professional artists and exhibition partnerships.
- Transition Program Vocational arts training partnership with Pinellas County Schools for 18-22 year old students with disabilities, teaching art fundamentals along with sales, marketing, customer relations, and the business of being an artist.
- Good Folk Gallery On-site and virtual gallery retailing artwork created by Creative Clay's member artists, with member artists earning a 50% commission on all works sold.
- Creative Thrift Pay-what-you-can art supply thrift store offering art supplies for professional artists, hobbyists, and kids, while providing a social entrepreneurial revenue stream and on-the-job training apprenticeships for people with disabilities.
- Summer Studio Inclusive summer art camp for children of all abilities, historically operated in partnership with the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
- Creative Care Creative Clay's supportive programming for people with disabilities, complementing the Community Arts Program with care-oriented arts experiences.
- Open Studio Open-access studio programming at Creative Clay providing participants access to the studio environment for artistic creation and mentorship.
- Good Folk Fest Annual arts and music festival celebrating Creative Clay's mission, featuring live performances, art auctions, vendor marketplace, shuffleboard, and a community celebration of inclusive arts programming.
Companies that use Creative Clay
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Creative Clay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Creative Clay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Dalí MuseumcorePartner museum for artwork exhibitions and educational programs. Provides exhibition space for Creative Clay artists and integrates programs into museum offerings.
- Tampa Museum of ArtcoreRegional museum partner providing exhibition opportunities and educational outreach for Creative Clay artists.
- Morean Art Center / Chihuly CollectioncoreMajor arts center partner offering exhibition space and art education programming collaboration.
- Pinellas County Schools (PCS) Transition ProgramcoreEducational partnership providing vocational transition services for students with disabilities transitioning from school to adult programs.
- Imagine MuseumminorPartner museum featuring and selling Creative Clay artist work in their gallery spaces.
- Florida CraftArt (FCA)coreState arts organization partner providing gallery space, exhibitions, and advocacy for Florida craft artists including those with disabilities.
- ARTicles GalleryminorPartner gallery selling artwork by Creative Clay artists on consignment basis.
- Arts Axis FloridacoreRegional arts organization collaboration supporting arts programming and artist development.
- James Museum of Western & Wildlife ArtPartner museum featuring Creative Clay artist work in gallery exhibitions.
- Dunedin Fine Art CenterminorRegional partner gallery providing exhibition opportunities for Creative Clay artists.
- St. Petersburg Museum of HistoryminorPartner museum providing exhibition space for community arts programming.
- St. Petersburg Museum of Fine ArtsminorRegional partner museum for art exhibitions and educational outreach.
- Sunken GardensminorPartner venue hosting art exhibitions and community events.
- Sunshine Center of St. Petersburg Senior CenterminorCommunity partnership serving seniors through collaborative arts programming.
- St. Pete Beach LibraryminorPublic library partnership for community arts programming and outreach.
- St. Petersburg Opera CompanyminorArts organization partnership for cross-disciplinary creative programming.
- Make StudiominorArts studio partner supporting maker and creative programming.
- Keep Pinellas BeautifulminorEnvironmental nonprofit partnership for community beautification and creative recycling programs.
- Daystar LifeminorHuman services nonprofit partnership serving individuals in need.
- Black Crow Coffee Co.minorLocal business partnership supporting community events and fundraising.
- Raymond James MarketingminorCorporate marketing partnership supporting nonprofit programs and events.
- Big Frog T-shirtsminorRetail partner selling custom merchandise featuring Creative Clay artist designs.
- Vertical VenturesminorLocal business partnership supporting community events.
- The Off-CentralminorLocal media/business partnership for community outreach.
- Sparks Creative StoriesminorCreative storytelling partnership supporting artist narrative and advocacy.
- Heart Artlink Takamatsu-St. PetersburgminorInternational sister-city arts partnership connecting St. Petersburg with Takamatsu, Japan.
- First Night St. PeteminorAnnual New Year's Eve arts festival partnership providing exhibition opportunities.
- Florida Unique Abilities Partner ProgramcoreState program partnership supporting inclusive employment and accessibility initiatives.
- EDGE Business District AssociationminorBusiness district partnership supporting local economic development and community events.
- The Impossible DreamminorNonprofit partnership supporting accessible sailing and maritime programs.
- Sabal Palms Health & Rehabilitation CenterminorHealthcare partnership for therapeutic arts programming.
- Tyrone Square MallminorRetail partnership providing event space for art markets and community outreach.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Creative Clay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arts of Life: Chicago-based nonprofit art studio and gallery for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering professional artist mentorship and exhibition opportunities. Operates a comparable gallery and studio programming model.
- ArtMix: Indianapolis-based nonprofit advancing arts engagement for people with disabilities through inclusive programming, exhibitions, and community partnerships. Comparable mission scope and regional nonprofit operating model.
- Access Gallery: Denver, CO nonprofit gallery and studio program providing arts education, vocational experience, and exhibition opportunities for artists with disabilities. Operates a similar retail-gallery-plus-studio combination.
- Creative Growth: Oakland, CA-based nonprofit art center supporting artists with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities through studio programming and gallery representation. Closely comparable operating model to Creative Clay — professional mentorship, member artist sales, and gallery channel.
- NIAD Art Center: Richmond, CA nonprofit providing studio arts programming, exhibition, and income opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Highly comparable model with similar community gallery and commission-based artist compensation structure.
- Visionaries + Voices: Cincinnati, OH nonprofit art studio serving adults with disabilities through professional studio practice, gallery exhibitions, and community partnerships. Closely analogous operating model with similar studio-to-gallery pathway.
Broad incumbents
- VSA (Kennedy Center): The international program on disability and the arts at the John F. Kennedy Center operates broadly across disability-inclusive arts education rather than as a single regional studio. Comparable mission but operates as a network and grant-maker at national scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Creative Clay social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Clay compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Creative Clay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Clay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Creative Clay subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Creative Clay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Clay M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Clay
What does Creative Clay do?
Creative Clay is a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization that provides expressive, educational, and vocational art programming for people with disabilities, primarily adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Its core offering is the Community Arts Program, which delivers professional artist mentorship in a studio environment and channels member artwork through its Good Folk Gallery, where artists earn 50% commission on sales.
Is Creative Clay a public or private company?
Creative Clay is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Creative Clay founded?
Creative Clay was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Creative Clay based?
Creative Clay is headquartered in St. Petersburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creative Clay make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are gallery Art Sales, donations and Grants, creative Thrift Store and event Revenue.
Who are Creative Clay's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arts of Life, ArtMix, Access Gallery, Creative Growth, NIAD Art Center and Visionaries + Voices. VSA (Kennedy Center) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Creative Clay have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Clay.
What industry is Creative Clay in?
Creative Clay's product category is Disability Arts Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAKAA, Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAA, Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 3260.