The Kentuck Art Gallery will open a new co-op pottery and ceramics workshop, called The Clay Place, tonight as part of downtown Northport’s monthly Art Night celebration.

“It is something you might take a course for in college or have an interest in, but it’s not something you can really do at home,” Kentuck assistant director Emily Leigh said. “We are trying to provide a place where people can come and do ceramics.”

Thursday night’s opening will be from 5 to 9 p.m. and is free of charge as part of Art Night, where visitors can view works by established and up-and-coming artists.

Artists featured this month include local printmakers, UA art professor Sarah Marshall and UA student Rebecca Reynolds. Additionally, those who come by can enjoy live music and cob-oven pizzas.

Even though Art Night is free, there will be a charge for membership in The Clay Place. Members can gain access to its fully-equipped workshop, six pottery wheels and several kilns. There will also be a shop foreman to help out.

“There is just nowhere in Tuscaloosa right now for people who know how to do pottery or for people who want to learn,” said Kerry Kennedy, resident potter at Kentuck. “I think we are really fulfilling that need with The Clay Place.”

Kennedy will be teaching classes at the co-op on throwing and hand building, or pottery done without a potter’s wheel. She said she hopes they can bring in other pottery instructors to teach a few classes.

But Kentuck also hopes to provide nonmembers with opportunities to use The Clay Place’s facilities.

“Later we hope to have a project night where you do not have to be a member to participate. We also want to have classes for beginners and put on how-to parties,” Kennedy said.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to use Kentuck’s The Clay Place and get class credit. Malaysia Galbraith, associate professor of anthropology and New College, will be teaching a summer course in pottery at the University and will be using Kentuck’s new facilities.

But it is not just artists who are getting involved in the opening of the new addition to Tuscaloosa. Students of professor James Kashman’s business class have been working on a business model for The Clay Place.

“We are very excited about opening this program to the community,” Leigh said. “We want it to be a real working business.”

“It is really interesting working with Kentuck,” said Brad Lee, a member of the Business Honors Program. “They had done a lot of research. We came in expecting to have to tell them how to run the business, but really we just needed to help them with support services.”

The students work as consultants for Kentuck. If they have questions they can meet with them to give them suggestions. Right now the group is working on a two-day membership orientation class and tackling the best way to manage membership for Kentuck.

Rather than keeping cash in The Clay Place, members will be able to purchase Clay Bucks. Clay Bucks will be available in the Kentuck store.

“We are also having an event on Feb. 19, a la cARTe from 12 until 2 in our courtyard to benefit the co-op,” Leigh said. “Several local artists will be making soup mugs that will be for sale and Wintzell’s seafood restaurant will be filling them with gumbo and bread pudding. You pay $25 for the mug, but the gumbo is free.”

The event will be open to the public and people can buy a mug to support the co-op. There will be fun activities for both kids and adults.

For more information on Kentuck’s Art Night and a la cARTe event, visit kentuck.org or call the Kentuck Art Gallery office at (205) 758-1257.