Ways to Register
To register over the phone or by mail, please contact Christine Powell (540-362-6225 or cpowell@hollins.edu). Payment must be received with registration.
NOTE: Registration is first-come, first served, with limited seating. Must be 18 or older to attend.
Details and Fees
- Symposium: $395 (Student rate: $275)
- Meal plan: $95
- Lodging: $125
Housing
Housing is available on campus or at area hotels. Campus dorm rooms are fully air-conditioned, single rooms, with shared, hall bathrooms. On campus housing is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson offers a Hollins rate of $94-$99/night (double or king). Call 540-366-5678 and ask for the Hollins rate, or book online HERE.
Meal Plan
The meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner served in the main dining hall.
Our food service provider, Meriwether Godsey, believes in providing fabulous food, and serving the freshest, healthiest and closest ingredients available. Their team is passionate about food and are totally committed to scratch cooking. This is true not just for entrees, but for soups, composed salads, sides, as well as salad dressings, sauces, and desserts. In addition, they offer selections that are locally made by others — like artisan breads and pastries. They are attentive to a wide range of dietary needs and are happy to make accommodations for special requests.
Cancellation Policies
Refunds are available until April 7, 2025.
All requests for refunds must be made in writing.
No refunds will be given to those who must leave the symposium early.
Scholarships
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends at Blue Ridge Potters Guild, four partial scholarships in the amount of $395 each are available for participants who would not be able to attend such an experience without financial assistance. While we do not ask for specific financial information, we ask applicants to self-certify that without financial assistance it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to attend. This certification will be taken and accepted at face value.
The awards will be made at the discretion of the scholarship board and are based on both the merit of the work and financial need. Recipients must cover their own travel, lodging, and food. Recipients must agree to have their name and likeness used on the Symposium website, press releases, and other publicity materials. Any adult (over age 18) may apply.
Applicants must include three (3) images of their work.
Scholarship Essay
A personal statement of no more than one page describing your interest in the Women Working with Clay Symposium, including any workshops or conferences you’ve attended in the past, how you heard about the Symposium, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Deadline for applications is February 24, 2025. Winners will be notified by March 10, 2025.
Studio Assistants
Studio assistants attend the symposium without paying a registration or lodging fee, in exchange for assisting in various areas of the symposium. General duties may include:
- Studio set up Monday morning before the start of the symposium
- Help with Symposium registration on Monday afternoon
- Transportation of presenters to/from the airport and campus housing
- Supporting presenters in the studio during demonstrations
- Assist with AV needs during presentations and slide shows
- Photography and social media coverage of the symposium
- Clean up of studios on Thursday morning
Applicants must include three (3) images of their work, a letter of recommendation, and a statement of intent (why you want to attend the symposium and any past experience working with clay).
Studio assistantships are open to both new and previous assistants.
Deadline for applications is February 24, 2025. Assistants will be notified by March 10, 2025.
Small Object Exchange
Every year it’s such a treat to see the slide presentation of the attendees’ artwork during the symposium, but it is only a brief introduction to all of the talented people who attend. We introduced the Small Object Exchange in 2018 to further highlight the diversity of work being made in our community. It was greeted with overwhelming support so it has become a permanent part of the Symposium.
To participate, please bring a small clay object (no larger than 6” x 6” x 6”) to turn in when you check in at the registration desk. The piece should represent your work and be something you want to exchange for another artist’s work. Your piece will be numbered and you’ll complete an information card to be displayed with your small object.
On Wednesday evening we will exchange all of our beautiful objects. Each person who participates draws a number and gets the piece that corresponds to that number. In an effort to tie together the Attendee Slide Presentation and Small Object Exchange, please have one of your four images be an image of the small object you plan to exchange.
We look forward to seeing your work!
2025 Symposium Schedule
(Please note: this schedule is subject to change)
Monday, June 9
1-4:30 p.m.: Check in
4:30 p.m.: Welcome and introductions
4:45 p.m.: Symposium Exhibition Opening
7 p.m.: Opening Lecture: Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy
Tuesday, June 10
9 a.m.: Presentations with all four presenters
11:15 a.m.: Presenter demonstrations
1:30 p.m.: Concurrent Presenter demonstrations
4:15 p.m.: Presentation of attendee works
7 p.m.: Open Studio (tools and clay available)
Wednesday, June 11
9 a.m.: Concurrent Presenter demonstrations
1:30 p.m.: Concurrent Presenter demonstrations
5:30 p.m.: Reception and Dinner with presenters, including Small Object Exchange and closing remarks
Thursday, June 12
11 a.m.: Checkout of rooms by 11 a.m.
Daily Meal Schedule
Breakfast: 8 a.m.
Lunch: 12:30 p.m.
Dinner: 5:30 p.m.
Attendee Slide Presentation
The Attendee Slide Presentation is an opportunity to come together and show the imaginative and wonderful pieces that we all create, and share a little something about your work. We encourage everyone to participate in this supportive, community event.
The sample format shown above gives an idea of what the Power Point slide might look like. We ask that you provide images (no larger than 1 MB) that will fit this format.
We will send an email with a link to upload your images, including a photo of yourself as well as four images of your work.
You will receive a confirmation email within two-three business days advising that your images have been received. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact Tammy Hicks a hickstr@hollins.edu.
We look forward to seeing all of the submissions we receive.
Bailey Emerging Artist Scholarship
Bailey Pottery Equipment has generously funded one full scholarship in the amount of $615 (registration, meals, campus housing). This scholarship is intended to support an individual that exemplifies excellence in the field, is in the early stages of their career, and may not otherwise be able to attend the symposium. While we do not ask for specific financial information, we ask applicants to self-certify that without financial assistance it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to attend. These statements will be taken and accepted at face value.
This scholarship is meant to support a studio artist who maintains a studio practice and has been out of school for several years. (This scholarship is not open to students.) Recipients must agree to have their name and likeness used on the Symposium website, press releases, and other publicity materials. Any adult (over age 18) may apply.
Applicants must include three (3) images of their work.
The award will be made at the discretion of the scholarship board and is based on both the merit of the work and financial need. Recipients will be required to provide a summary of their experience at the Symposium and what it meant for them to attend.
Scholarship Essay
A personal statement of no more than one page describing your interest in the Women Working with Clay Symposium, your financial need, experience as a studio artist and exhibition record, any workshops or conferences you’ve attended in the past, how you heard about the Symposium, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Deadline for applications is February 24, 2025. Winners will be notified by March 10, 2025.