From Loss to Legacy: The Transformation of The Village Potters

On Sept 27th 2024 a devastating flood of 26 feet of river waters wept through The Village Potters Clay Center in Asheville’s River Arts District. In a matter of hours, years of hard work, carefully crafted equipment, and the personal studios of 38 artists were lost to the rushing, muddy water. It was a moment of heartbreak. Yet often, out of adversity comes change and renewal.

As we began the long process of recovery, one truth became clear: our work was about more than rebuilding walls and kilns. We were rebuilding dreams, community, and creative opportunity. Out of the mud and ruin emerged a greater mission, the creation of The Village Potters Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to ensuring that art, education, and resilience have a permanent home outside the flood plain but still in the epicenter of Asheville NC.

Today, we are not only restoring what was lost but transforming into a stronger, more sustainable organization. The Foundation allows us to expand scholarships, welcome more artists into our programs, and invest in infrastructure designed for the future and create full working studios for professional potters that were displaced by the flood.

The flood changed us, but it did not stop us. In fact, it gave us the chance to imagine something even better. With the support of our community, we are shaping a legacy in clay, one that will stand for generations to come.

The Village Potters Foundation

Shaping Clay, Shaping Lives