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About The Mud Hut
Nevada County’s only community ceramics center is operated as a nonprofit service by the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools Office. The Mud Hut opened in August 2003 adjacent to the Imaginarium hands-on science museum – another NCSoS project.
 The Mud Hut is hand building studio and does not have instruction in "throwing" pottery on wheels. Philosophically, we believe that there is a broader and deeper skill and knowledge base in hand building. From a practical standpoint, however, the Mud Hut does not have space for many pottery wheels. The Mud Hut consists of a spacious, well-lighted and well-furnished studio capable of accommodating up to 30 students, plus an adjacent kiln room with two 7 cubic foot electrical Olympic Cone 10 kilns that have computerized programming. We occasionally do raku, barrel and pit firings outside.
We are the only art studio operated by a county office of education in California. Why open a ceramics studio? In short, kids need and love it! Ceramics is enormously popular with students at Nevada County's two largest high schools, yet most younger children have few opportunities to learn ceramics in our local schools. Also, it is difficult for local teaching artists to both provide instruction and operate a teaching facility. By operating under the auspices of the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools Office, local ceramic teachers can focus on what they love most — teaching art and serving the community — and not have to maintain a facility, do promotion, manage a budget or hire staff. Finally, clay culture is a natural thing in Nevada County. Clay soil is underfoot nearly everywhere and the beauty of the Sierra foothills continues to inspire the thousands of artists who live there. The Mud Hut is pleased to be part of a thriving local ceramics scene that includes many nationally and regionally renowned potters, some exceptional teachers and galleries featuring ceramics.
Some of our instructor's work is on display and offered for sale at the Mud Hut. Since 2003, the Mud Hut has participated in Nevada County's annual Artists Open Studio event in October.
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