Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an admission charge for Clay It Up?

Clay It Up is free and open to the public for parents, spectators, and community members who would like to come witness this amazing event! If you are a school bringing students to participate and/or enter the live competitions, there is a cost involved for entry.

You can find the breakdown of prices in the Competitive Event Descriptions, or refer to the downloadable Registration Form for more details.

All students who have paid the entry fee will receive a t-shirt, SWAG bag, and lunch voucher.

When does registration open/close for schools?

Registration is currently open for Clay It Up 2024! Space and resources are limited and on a first come/first served basis. The earlier you register ensures your spot in the competitive events. The registration deadline is Tuesday, March 19th. Please download and fill out the Registration Form and send it back to us.

Will lunch be provided?

We listened to your feedback and we're trying something new for Clay It Up 2024 - Students will be fed lunch!!!

There will be a lunch break from 12:30 - 1:20 between our competitive events. All students who have paid an entry fee for Clay It Up will receive a lunch voucher, and food will be provided on site. At this point we are still finalizing food plans, and we will keep you posted as the event draws near.

What if we have a student who backs out last minute?

Our due date for the forms is set in advance so that we may begin purchasing materials and planning for the event. If you have a student who has a change of heart after agreeing to attend, you as the teacher may find an alternate student to take their place from your school. We cannot issue refunds for students who back out as materials have been purchased based on the numbers we receive.

Do schools need to bring their own supplies?

We will provide clay, buckets of water, and wheels during the event. The wheels will have bat pins installed. A limited number of bats will be available; however, we ask that you to bring your own for your students to use while wheel throwing. Any additional tools (sponges, ribs, spray bottles, cutting wires, banding wheels/turntables, blow dryers, etc.) will need to be brought with you on the day of the event. Please make sure to clearly label all of your tools that you bring!

What clay body will be used for Clay It Up 2024?

Clay It Up will once again be partnering up with Art Zone in Nixa as our clay sponsor for this year's event. At this point, we have not yet finalized which clay body we will be using for the live competitions; however, we will update this section as soon as a decision has been made. Check back for more information!

Do the students get to keep the pieces they make?

Yes!!! Your students are more than welcome to take their pieces home, as well as any remaining clay they did not use during their competitive event. We will have plastic bags available to wrap up student work. You will need to bring ware boards and/or boxes to transport work back to your school to be fired and finished. Any pieces left behind after the event will be recycled.

Does my school need to be in attendance all day?

We would love for you to attend the entire day of Clay It Up. With both the live competitions and the visiting artist’s demonstrations, there will be plenty of engaging enrichment opportunities for your students. Please encourage your young artists to be in attendance all day. That being said, we understand that students often have multiple obligations on weekends and cannot commit to the entire day. We will make sure to notify all winners not in attendance at the awards ceremony and send the awards/winnings.

How many students can schools bring?

We want you to bring as many students to Clay It Up as possible! Whether you are a small school with only a few participants, or you have a large program and want your students to benefit from the enrichment the event has to offer, we have different options to best suit your needs:

Option 1 - Pay per Event: This is the best option for smaller programs that only have a few students participating. Your students will be able to compete in the live event for which they have paid, receive the t-shirt, SWAG bag, and lunch, and then they will also be able to participate in the Collaboration Challenges after lunch.

Option 2 - All Events Discount: If you have a group that would be able to fill every spot in the competitive events, we offer a flat rate fee of $200 for your school. This will secure all twelve spaces for your students in the live events, as well as, the Collaboration Challenges. Doing so provides you with a $20 discount as a school.

Add-On Option - Additional Students: Are you wanting to bring more than 12 students to Clay It Up?? Great!!! There is a $10 fee for each additional student who attends Clay It Up, but does not intend to compete in the live events. The fee will cover the t-shirt, SWAG bag, and lunch for the student, and they will still be eligible to participate in the Collaboration Challenges.