Creative Clay

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.

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

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

• Disability arts programming
• Vocational art training
• Inclusive arts education
• Nonprofit art services
• Artist mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees from Community Arts Program ($65/day private pay), supported by Medicaid Waiver funding and scholarships for qualifying participants
2. Gallery Art Sales: Sale of artwork created by member artists through Good Folk Gallery with 50% commission going to artists
3. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundation grants supporting nonprofit operations
4. Creative Thrift Store: Revenue from thrift store sales providing vocational training opportunities
5. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including Art Markets, exhibitions, and community programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Dalí MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum for artwork exhibitions and educational programs. Provides exhibition space for Creative Clay artists and integrates programs into museum offerings.
• Tampa Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional museum partner providing exhibition opportunities and educational outreach for Creative Clay artists.
• Morean Art Center / Chihuly CollectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor arts center partner offering exhibition space and art education programming collaboration.
• Pinellas County Schools (PCS) Transition ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing vocational transition services for students with disabilities transitioning from school to adult programs.
• Imagine MuseumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner museum featuring and selling Creative Clay artist work in their gallery spaces.
• Florida CraftArt (FCA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState arts organization partner providing gallery space, exhibitions, and advocacy for Florida craft artists including those with disabilities.
• ARTicles GalleryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner gallery selling artwork by Creative Clay artists on consignment basis.
• Arts Axis FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts organization collaboration supporting arts programming and artist development.
• James Museum of Western & Wildlife ArtChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner museum featuring Creative Clay artist work in gallery exhibitions.
• Dunedin Fine Art CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner gallery providing exhibition opportunities for Creative Clay artists.
• St. Petersburg Museum of HistoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner museum providing exhibition space for community arts programming.
• St. Petersburg Museum of Fine ArtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner museum for art exhibitions and educational outreach.
• Sunken GardensminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner venue hosting art exhibitions and community events.
• Sunshine Center of St. Petersburg Senior CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership serving seniors through collaborative arts programming.
• St. Pete Beach LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic library partnership for community arts programming and outreach.
• St. Petersburg Opera CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization partnership for cross-disciplinary creative programming.
• Make StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts studio partner supporting maker and creative programming.
• Keep Pinellas BeautifulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental nonprofit partnership for community beautification and creative recycling programs.
• Daystar LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuman services nonprofit partnership serving individuals in need.
• Black Crow Coffee Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partnership supporting community events and fundraising.
• Raymond James MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate marketing partnership supporting nonprofit programs and events.
• Big Frog T-shirtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner selling custom merchandise featuring Creative Clay artist designs.
• Vertical VenturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partnership supporting community events.
• The Off-CentralminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media/business partnership for community outreach.
• Sparks Creative StoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative storytelling partnership supporting artist narrative and advocacy.
• Heart Artlink Takamatsu-St. PetersburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational sister-city arts partnership connecting St. Petersburg with Takamatsu, Japan.
• First Night St. PeteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual New Year's Eve arts festival partnership providing exhibition opportunities.
• Florida Unique Abilities Partner ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program partnership supporting inclusive employment and accessibility initiatives.
• EDGE Business District AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness district partnership supporting local economic development and community events.
• The Impossible DreamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partnership supporting accessible sailing and maritime programs.
• Sabal Palms Health & Rehabilitation CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership for therapeutic arts programming.
• Tyrone Square MallminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail partnership providing event space for art markets and community outreach.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/creativeclay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CreativeClayStPete
• Instagraminstagram.com/creativeclaystpete
• Facebookfacebook.com/creativeclaystpete

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creative Clay