Where Clay Meets Community
Northern Indiana is getting its first dedicated clay arts center — a working studio, gallery, classroom and gathering place rooted in Goshen's creative heart.
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Northern Indiana is getting its first dedicated clay arts center — a working studio, gallery, classroom and gathering place rooted in Goshen's creative heart.
The Northern Indiana Clay Alliance has grown from a shared vision into an organization ready to plant roots. Now, with a home at 118 S. Main Street in downtown Goshen, we are turning that vision into a place where artists, students, families and makers can come together.
There is no dedicated clay arts center serving Elkhart County or the surrounding region. NICA fills that gap — providing access to professional equipment, structured education and a creative home for the growing community of ceramic artists in Northern Indiana and beyond.
From open studio membership to youth programming to gallery exhibitions, NICA is designed to serve everyone from first-time learners to working professional artists.
Located at 118 S. Main Street, our space is designed from the ground up to be one of the finest community clay centers in the Midwest — fully equipped, professionally appointed and open to all.
30 Brent and Shimpo pottery wheels for both instruction and open studio work, with dedicated bat storage and individual work areas.
A dedicated instruction space accommodating up to 20 students, fitted for hand-building, surface decoration and slip casting.
Two dedicated kiln rooms housing 6 electric kilns with proper ventilation, kiln wash storage and shelving for in-process work.
A street-facing gallery showcasing resident artists, student exhibitions and curated ceramic work — making NICA a cultural destination on Main Street.
A dedicated residency program providing emerging and established artists with studio time, mentorship, materials support and exhibition opportunities.
After-school programs, summer camps and school partnerships designed to bring clay arts to the next generation of Elkhart County makers.
We have built the foundation. Now we are building the place. Here is where we are in the journey.
NICA established with board, mission and early community programming.
118 S. Main Street, Goshen — a downtown anchor for the clay arts community.
Fundraising and grant applications in progress. Key partnerships confirmed.
Space build-out, equipment installation and final fit-out of all studio areas.
NICA opens — memberships, classes, gallery and residency programs launch.
NICA is made possible by the generosity of individuals, families and organizations who believe in the power of the arts to strengthen communities. Your investment names a space, funds a program, equips a studio and opens a door for the next generation of makers in Northern Indiana.
We are currently in our founding capital campaign. Every gift at every level makes a meaningful difference.
Endow NICA's artist residency program — named in honor of Marvin Bartel — and support emerging ceramic artists for years to come. Includes annual recognition, permanent acknowledgment in the center and a lasting legacy in the clay arts community.
Give NowName one of NICA's dedicated classrooms and fund the youth and community education programming that will bring hundreds of students through our doors each year.
Give NowFund wheels, kilns and studio equipment that will be used by hundreds of students and artists every year. Equipment donors are recognized on each piece they fund.
Give NowSupport NICA's street-facing gallery, making ceramic art visible and accessible to all of Goshen. Founding sponsors are recognized in all gallery exhibitions.
Give NowSponsor a year of youth programming — after-school classes, summer camps and school partnerships that bring clay arts to students across Elkhart County.
Give NowEvery gift supports NICA's mission. General fund donors and founding members receive recognition, early access to programming and invitations to special events.
Give NowCommunity surveys and years of programming have made one thing clear: Northern Indiana is ready for this. Your support turns that readiness into reality.
"Access to a dedicated clay space would be transformational for our region. NICA fills a gap that artists and educators have felt here for years."
Northern Indiana Clay Community Survey RespondentThere is no dedicated clay arts center serving Elkhart County or the surrounding region. NICA is a first, and the community has asked for it.
A broad community survey found overwhelming support for a clay center — with strong interest in classes, open studio, youth programs and gallery programming.
A thriving clay center on Main Street draws visitors, supports working artists and adds to the creative identity that makes Goshen a destination city.
NICA is structured for long-term sustainability with diversified revenue, an endowment strategy and deep roots in the community organizations that helped it grow.
Whether you are ready to make a gift, interested in a specific giving opportunity or simply want to follow our progress — we would love to keep you in the loop.
Sign up to receive updates on our capital campaign, opening timeline, founding membership opportunities and first-look programming announcements.
Sign up for updates on the clay center's progress and opening.
