A New Approach
The Bray is committed to offering quality learning opportunities to support all student types and is embarking on exploring new formats of condensed learning from prominent artists in the field and throughout Montana. While previous immersive summer workshop programming (prior to 2020) will not return, we look forward to providing alternative summer programs in conjunction with The Bray Incubator program, and workshop opportunities throughout the calendar year.
Learn more about upcoming workshop and seminars below.
Upcoming Seminars and Workshops
Ceramic Furniture
Join us for an immersive five-day workshop where participants will create their very own piece of ceramic furniture - choose from a chair, stool, or side table. Under the guidance of Austin, you will explore advanced coil and slab building techniques, focusing on moisture control and effective attachment methods. Learn when and how to incorporate internal supports to ensure optimal weight distribution for your design.
Throughout the masterclass, you will gain practical experience in enclosing forms, constructing shrink slabs, and managing the during process for each piece. Austin will provide expert insights on how to safely move and fire your finished works, as well as various techniques for repairing surface cracks at different stages of fabrication.
The course is tailored for intermediate to advnaced makers looking to deepen their skills and expand their creative repertoire. Beginners are encouraged to seek prior experience before enrolling. Discover More About Austin here.
Montana Educators – Receive OPI Renewal Units for Classes at The Bray!
DATES:
May 15-19, 2025
EXPERIENCE LEVEL:
Intermediate - Advanced
TUITION:
$725. Includes instructional time, course supplies, and studio access for workshop related use. Please note: all travel, lodging, and meals are additional and the responsibility of participants (detailed below).
*A minimum of 9 is required to run the class
Registration below (orange button)
Working with Local Clay
Learn from artist educators Dante Gambardella, Josh DeWeese, and Colby Allred as they come together to lead a 7 day workshop on working with local clay. This workshop will travel to several local clay sites located in the Helena National Forest, where students will learn to recognize and dig for local clay. The Instructors will then show students how to process found clay into a workable state fit for making and firing in both gas and electric firings.
In addition to processing clay for building with, students will experiment with making various kinds of glazes that emphasize the uniqueness of the local materials found. This class will give students the confidence to dig their own clay and provide a unique skillset to process clay with minimal resources and tools. Discover more about instructors here: Dante Gambardella, Josh DeWeese, Colby Allred.
Montana Educators – Receive OPI Renewal Units for Classes at The Bray!
DATES:
June 5-11, 2025
EXPERIENCE LEVEL:
All Levels Welcome! (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
TUITION:
$885. Includes instructional time, course supplies, and studio access for workshop related use. Please note: all travel, lodging, and meals are additional and the responsibility of participants (detailed below).
*Up to 50% Scholarship is available for this workshop - please see general "Scholarship Information" section further down on page for more details*
*A minimum of 9 is required to run the class
Registration below (orange button)
Glaze of Our Lives; Understanding Glazes for the Beginner
Glaze of Our Lives is a comprehensive study of ceramic glazes that helps people learn about what glazes are and how they work. This 5 day in person workshop will answer all of the questions you have and smash a lot of the ceramic myths you may have been told. As a class, you’ll take the mystery of materials, formulas and firings and translate them to change your studio forever!
The workshop will be led by Matthew Katz, who has worked as an Artist and Ceramic Engineer for over 20 years. Matt is a co-founder of Ceramic Materials Workshop, an online teaching platform that teaches the ceramics community about glazes and clay. He uses his knowledge of art and engineering to make ceramic science understandable and accessible for people of all experience levels. Discover More About Matt and Ceramics Material Workshop here
Montana Educators – Receive OPI Renewal Units for Classes at The Bray!
DATES:
July 21-July 25, 2025
EXPERIENCE LEVEL:
All Levels Welcome! (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
TUITION:
$775. Includes instructional time, course supplies, and studio access for workshop related use. Please note: all travel, lodging, and meals are additional and the responsibility of participants (detailed below).
*A minimum of 11 is required to run the class
Registration below (orange button)
Helpful Workshop Information
TRAVEL:
A car is highly recommended for getting to and from The Bray as our campus sits just outside city limits and public transportation, including Uber's and Lyft's are limited. Helena is spread out making walking and bicycling challenging.
If flying into Montana: Helena Region Airport (HLN) is the most convenient option but may have limited flight options. Bozeman (BZN), Missoula (MSO), and Great Falls (GTF) are also options approximately 1.5-2 hours driving distance from Helena. A rental car is required if flying into and out of other airports - NO bus systems run between these cities.
LODGING, & MEALS:
The Bray's campus does NOT have onsite housing or meals available.
There is a kitchenette within the education building which participants are welcome to use during their stay. This includes a: fridge, freezer, microwave, stovetop, oven, drip coffee maker, electric tea kettle, French press, pour over, sink, basic dishes, basic cook ware, and dishwasher. Rule of the kitchen = if you use it, you clean it.
Airbnb's are plentiful in the Helena area. The Lamplighter Inn & Suites is in close proximity to The Bray at 2.4 miles, and The Double Tree and The Great Northern are popular downtown hotels at approximately 3.5 miles from Bray campus.
RIDE / LODGING SHARE:
For those interested in ride or lodging shares, please email education@archiebray.org with:
- your name
- the workshop you are registered for
- preferred email address
and we will add you to a shared spread sheet for those interested in coordinating with one another.
OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS:
Helena and Montana are beautiful areas with plenty to see, enjoy, and do. Check out these websites for some ideas!
Scholarship Information
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Availability
Scholarship availability varies from each seminar and workshop. When scholarships are available, it will be noted in the seminar or workshop description.
We are working to make scholarships available for all seminars and workshops offered at The Bray.
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Eligibility
All ages, backgrounds, and experience levels are eligible to apply for scholarships. Scholarships are intended to support, and are awarded to individuals who meet any of the below qualifiers:
- would otherwise not be able to attend due to financial hardship
- would face difficulty attending without financial assistantship
- have routinely faced financial barriers in their pursuit of arts education
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Application
To apply for a scholarship to a seminar or workshop complete this online form which includes:
- Basic applicant information
- One page (+/- 500 words) Letter of Intent expressing what you hope to gain from the seminar or workshop and the impact you foresee it having on your creative pursuits and/or career. Additionally, please provide any relevant information to help us best understand your financial circumstances as related to attending the seminar or workshop.
- You may choose to upload an audio or video file in lieu of a written letter of intent (limit 4 minutes)
Past workshops and Seminars
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A New Direction With Overglaze
With Paul Lewing, September 2022
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Montana Art Educators Association
Spring Retreat, April 2022
