Baltimore Clayworks Dodges Bankruptcy, Plans to Reopen, Organizers Say — Baltimore Fishbowl

Baltimore Clayworks website (Screenshot)

Mount Washington’s 37-year-old ceramic arts nonprofit is back from the dead.

More than two months after Baltimore Clayworks’ former executive director announced the organization was shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, a grassroots campaign of Clayworks members and others revealed on Sept. 27 that they’ve successfully negotiated a deal to avoid closure, assume control of the nonprofit and install a brand new board of trustees.

The Clayworks Community Campaign, made up of Clayworks members and concerned locals, announced the deal. The group had worked for more than half a year to negotiate with the debt-burdened nonprofit’s ex-leaders on a sale of one the organization’s two Smith Avenue buildings — in order to preclude closure and bankruptcy. Evidently, the old leaders never actually filed for bankruptcy, despite clearing house and locking the doors.

“They closed the doors in mid-July,” community campaign spokeswoman and new board member Marsh Smelkinson said in a phone interview. “Right about that time, the existing board and our campaign agreed that we could not agree by ourselves, and so we both engaged counsel. Basically the last two months, the negotiations were through the attorneys.”

Clayworks shut down after eight months of searching for a way to stay financially solvent. The nonprofit was burdened with more than $1 million in debt, in part because of unpaid loans. The debt accrued over a period of 13 years, as Clayworks continued to serve Baltimore with workshops, studios for artists-in-residence and other programming from its home base in historic Mount Washington. The state also pitched in, selling more than $800,000 worth of bonds to assist with repairs and renovations.

Board members will hold a community meeting on Oct. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Parish Hall at the Church of the Redeemer at 5603 N. Charles St. A grand reopening event will be scheduled for later in the fall.

Read the full article at Baltimore Fishbowl.

Above: Screenshot of Baltimore Clayworks’ website.

You May Also Like
Sandra R. Berman Center for Humanity, Tolerance & Holocaust Education Dedicated at Towson University

The center's mission is to promote education on humanity, tolerance and the Shoah to highlight the dangers of bigotry and intolerance.

Orioles Sale to David Rubenstein Group Approved by Major League Baseball
David Rubenstein

The product of a blue-collar Jewish family, the Baltimore-born Rubenstein, 74, is a multi-billionaire lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.

Two Orthodox Men Attacked in Northwest Baltimore While Walking to Synagogue
Mt. Washington

Baltimore County Police and Shomrim are searching for a black Kia Optima with the license plate 4BA3705.

Manischewitz Announces Rebranding of its Product Line
Manischewitz

The rebranding of the nation's leading kosher brand comes shortly before the start of the Festival of Freedom.