About Us
Combining Art, Education, and Community since 2011
The Village Potters Clay Center (TVPCC) is a vibrant creative community dedicated to the exploration of clay. TVPCC is run by a collective of six Resident Potters – Sarah Wells Rolland, Judi Harwood, Julia Mann, Katie Meili Messersmith, Karen Dubois, and Maria Andrade Troya.
The 18,000 sq. foot facility houses six private Resident Potter studios, eighteen joint-use Working Studios for emerging professional potters, three fully equipped educational classrooms, thirteen varying atmospheric kilns, a retail gallery, and clay company that distributes clay (Laguna and Standard clays), raw materials, and pottery tools. Our center’s gallery is one of Western NC’s premier galleries selling fine ceramic art and functional work by our six resident potters and handful of our Working Studio tenants.
Education is at the heart of everything we do at our studio. Our extensive educational programs offer both in-person and live online classes for adults, demonstrations and hands-on workshops, as well as an Advanced Studies Ceramics Program (designed around Independent Study and Mentoring).
Shaping Clay, Shaping Futures
At The Village Potters, we believe in the power of clay to build creative lives, livelihoods, and lasting legacies. Rooted in the traditions of fine craft and inspired by the evolving needs of artists today, we’ve created a thriving community that supports ceramic artists at every stage of their journey from curious beginners to committed professionals.
Our Mission
The Village Potters Clay Center (TVPCC) is now a non-profit 501c3 organization. TVPCC is dedicated to preserving the legacy of fine craft, inspiring passion, nurturing growth, and supporting sustainable careers for the next generation of clay and ceramic artists.
Our Vision
We envision a vibrant and enduring future for the ceramic arts, one where the rich legacy of fine craft is honored, creative passion is awakened in every generation, and artists are empowered with the skills, mentorship, and resources they need to thrive. TVPCC is a nurturing and inclusive space where artists explore their voices, refine their craft, and build sustainable, purpose driven careers. Through education, access, and innovation, we uplift lives and enrich the cultural fabric of our community and nation.
Educational Programs
Our educational programs are the heartbeat of our mission. Through our Independent Study & Mentoring (ISM) program, we raise up the next generation of ceramic artists, offering intensive skill building, business acumen, and deep one-on-one mentorship in a supportive, professional studio environment.
Beyond our advanced programs, we invite the broader community to discover the joy of working with clay. Our community classes are designed to unlock creativity, reduce isolation, and offer hands-on access to the transformative experience of the ceramic arts. Whether someone is throwing their first pot or refining a body of work and building a career, we are here to guide, teach, and inspire.
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The Resident Potters
The Resident Potters of The Village Potters Clay Center are six unique artists united by a shared passion for clay, their craft, and one another. Together, they provide daily support of the operations and culture of the Center’s many educational programs, display and sell their work, and embody the mission of the Foundation. Each Potter runs an independent clay business within the center, contributing their own voice and vision while enriching the collective whole. Though their journeys to The Village took different paths, they have all chosen this community as the place to grow their work in an atmosphere of collaboration, creativity, and camaraderie. These women are fueled by a generous spirit and a love for people and pots!
Sarah Wells Rolland
Executive Director
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Judi Harwood
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Julia Mann
Studio Manager
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Katie Meili Messersmith
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Administrative Coordinator | Social Media Stragetist
Karen Dubois
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Maria Andrade Troya
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Social Media Stategist
Additional Team Members
While the Resident Potters are at the heart of our studio, they’re supported by a talented and diverse team who help bring everything to life. Behind the scenes, our operations and administrative team ensures everything runs smoothly from scheduling and communications to keeping the studio organized and accessible. Since education is a core pillar of The Village Potters Clay Center, each of our Resident Potters teaches at least one regular, weekly class in our Teaching Center classroom. However, with how many students that come through our Teaching Center, we have additional skilled instructors who are also eager to share their expertise and love of clay. Alongside our studio apprentices and gallery staff, every member of our team plays a vital role in creating a welcoming, creative, and well-supported space for all of our artists, students, and visitors.
George Rolland
Facility Manager
Zulema Seguel
Director of Operations | Clay Company Coordinator
Kyra Pruitt
Instructor | Clay Company Coordinator
Amanda Bragaw
Bookkeeper | Instructor
Kat Reeves
Brand Coordinator | Marketing Manager
Our Values
Economic Sustainability
We know that for artists to thrive, they must have both creative freedom and financial stability. That’s why we’ve built a model that prioritizes economic sustainability. Through robust gallery sales, affordable studio rentals, and our role as a fiscal sponsor for artists and emerging arts organizations, we help ensure that working in clay isn’t just a passion, it’s a fine craft legacy sustaining career. By investing in infrastructure, opportunity, and entrepreneurship, we empower artists to focus on what they do best, creating.
Scholarships & Access for All
We believe that access to the arts should never be limited by financial barriers. That’s why we provide scholarships for a wide range of learners, from those just beginning their journey in clay to artists pursuing advanced study. Whether through beginner classes, weeklong intensives, or our rigorous ISM program, we ensure that cost does not stand in the way of artistic growth and opportunity.
Through these interconnected pillars, economic sustainability, education, and access, The Village Potters Foundation is cultivating a resilient, diverse, inclusive, and artistically rich future for the ceramic arts. We’re not just teaching pottery, we’re shaping lives, building community, and making a lasting impact through the timeless language of clay.
Inclusivity
At The Village Potters, ALL are Welcome.
All cultures. All religions. All colors. All beliefs. All ages. All sizes. All genders. All sexual orientations. All types. All people.
The Village Potters Clay Center is deeply committed to serving and supporting every person. We maintain a community which recognizes, values, and celebrates the worth and uniqueness of all individuals. We do not discriminate of the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status.
Core Values
Respect | Integrity | Service | Kindness | Excellence
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