Support the MSU Billings Potters’ Guild: Help Students Attend NCECA
Your support can open the door to a transformative professional experience for members of the MSU Billings Potters’ Guild—one that takes learning beyond the studio classroom and into the heart of the national ceramics community.
Each year, students have the opportunity to attend the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conference, the largest and most influential gathering of ceramic artists, educators, and scholars worldwide. With thousands of members from across the United States and more than 20 countries, NCECA sustains and advances the field of ceramic art through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, research presentations, and community engagement.
Why This Experience Matters
Attending NCECA immerses students in the full scope of contemporary ceramic practice. They encounter internationally recognized artists, emerging voices, cutting-edge research, and innovative techniques that expand their understanding of what clay can be.
Students attend lectures and panel discussions, experience museum-quality exhibitions, participate in demonstrations, and engage directly with graduate programs, galleries, and professional artists. They gain insight into career pathways, build professional networks, and see firsthand how ceramics connects education, community centers, museums, businesses, and global cultural dialogue.
These experiences cannot be replicated in the classroom alone. NCECA deepens technical knowledge, strengthens conceptual thinking, and helps students envision themselves as part of a vibrant, international community of makers.
Students return to MSU Billings energized and inspired—bringing new techniques, ideas, and perspectives back into the studio. The impact extends beyond the individual student, enriching critiques, club programming, community workshops, and the broader creative community in Montana.
How Your Gift Makes an Impact
For many students, travel and conference costs present a significant financial barrier. Your generosity helps remove that barrier and ensures that opportunity is based on dedication and talent—not financial circumstance.
By supporting the Potters’ Guild’s trip to NCECA, you are:
- Expanding access to national professional development opportunities
- Investing in the next generation of ceramic artists and educators
- Supporting hands-on learning beyond the classroom
- Strengthening the creative community in Montana
- Helping students build networks that shape their artistic futures
Every gift brings our students one step closer to participating in a professional experience that will influence their artistic voice and career trajectory for years to come.
Thank you for believing in the power of clay, community, and education.
Your support doesn’t just fund travel—it fuels growth, connection, and lasting impact.