May 5-7, 2023
Arkansas Pottery Festival was celebrated in May 2023. Stay tuned for 2024 announcements!
The annual event, now in its second year, packs all things pottery into a 3-day weekend full of demonstrations, presentations, showcases, and sales! Hosted by Community Creative Center, the Arkansas Pottery Festival activities are held at locations in and around Fayetteville – all of which are free and open to the public.
The fun begins on Friday, May 5th with an all-day sale and pottery exhibition, featuring handmade works by 75+ artists. Visiting artist Wes Brown will provide pottery demonstrations throughout the day and present a lecture in the evening. Throughout the day, festival attendees can also browse the plant and flower pot sale in partnership with the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, just in time for Mother’s Day! Each planter purchased comes with a free plant that you can enjoy alongside your newfound art piece.
On Saturday, May 6th, both pottery sales continue, as well as continued demonstrations by Wes Brown. Later in the evening, visiting author David Gifford of Niloak Pottery will present the keynote lecture at the Arkansas Pottery Festival, focusing on the history of pottery production in Northwest Arkansas. Swing by the “Potters’ Potluck” for a feast and live entertainment provided by musical guest Los Veleros.
The festival takes a turn off-site for Sunday, May 7th, when attendees are invited to tour the new University of Arkansas School of Art Annex, take a trip to the Historic Cane Hill Museum for an open house and pottery exhibition, or walk over to the Walton Arts Center to visit with artist Sangeet Gupta and view a ceramics exhibition hosted by the U of A School of Art.
Arkansas Pottery Festival Schedule
Friday, May 5
9:00am – Doors open
All Day – Pottery Sale & Exhibition
All Day – Plant & Flower Pot Sale
10:00am-12:00pm – Wes Brown Pottery Demonstrations
12:30-4:30pm – Wes Brown Pottery Demonstrations
5:45pm – Door Prize Drawing
6:00pm – Wes Brown Artist Lecture
Saturday, May 6
9:00am – Doors open
All Day – Pottery Sale & Exhibition
All Day – Plant & Flower Pot Sale
10:00am-12:00pm – Wes Brown Pottery Demonstrations
12:00pm – Door Prize Drawing
12:30-4:30pm – Wes Brown Pottery Demonstrations
5:00pm – Raffle Drawing
5:15pm – Keynote Lecture: David Gifford
6:15pm – Potters’ Pot-Luck & Cook-Out with music by Los Veleros
Sunday, May 7
10:00am-4:00pm – Pottery Sale & Exhibition
10:00am-5:00pm – University of Arkansas School of Art Annex Tours
12:30pm – Sangeet Gupta: Wood Fired Vessels & UA School of Art Ceramics Exhibition
1:00pm-5:00pm – Historic Cane Hill Museum Open House & “Niloak and Beyond” Exhibition
2:30pm – Sangeet Gupta: Wood Fired Vessels & UA School of Art Ceramics Exhibition
For more information about the speakers and specific events at this year’s Arkansas Pottery Festival, visit communitycreativecenter.org.
