Sign the Letter of Community Support
To Whom It May Concern:
Greenwich House Pottery (GHP), located at 16 Jones Street in Greenwich Village, has fostered creativity, connection, and wellness through ceramics since 1904.
Today, GHP is a beloved community facility, art school and studio, and exhibition space where artists of all skill levels, ages, races, and economic circumstances gather to practice ceramic arts.
Given the historic and ongoing value the Pottery brings to the neighborhood, students and artists, and the City’s arts and cultural infrastructure, I strongly support GHP’s renovation and modernization plans at 16 Jones Street to ensure its sustainability for present and future generations of artists.
There are many reasons why the time is NOW to update this facility:
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GHP was founded with a goal of creating workforce opportunities for the City’s growing immigrant populations through artisan training programs.
Even as the space evolved beyond a narrow job training focus, the program has long fostered a focus on expanding access and inclusivity.
In addition to helping provide new opportunities for more New Yorkers, this expansion and modernization will allow for critical facility upgrades to make the space ADA compliant and more accessible to people of all abilities and ages.
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The field of pottery has been experiencing an amazing renaissance in recent years and GHP is proud to be fostering that interest through our cultivation of aspiring artists, support of skilled teachers, and building of passionate community.
That proud legacy has also created strains and limits on the workspace and equipment at 16 Jones Street to meet the demand.
In order to continue to fulfill our mission and community demands, we are excited to update the building infrastructure, add new classroom space, and introduce new gas kilns that will accommodate more work and make firing pieces more efficient.
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Built in 1928, the 16 Jones Street building is a historic fixture in Greenwich Village, yet the years of uninterrupted use have created significant wear and tear on equipment and functional community spaces.
To preserve and extend the life of this historic building, there are several critical replacements needed to the foundation, structure, walls, finishes, ceilings, electrical and plumbing.
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Old windows and insulation make heating and cooling inefficient at 16 Jones Street. The gas kilns, which are a rarity in NYC and are essential for ceramic artists, burn inefficiently and have been rebuilt several times over the years.
A new HVAC system, new windows and insulation, new state-of-the-art kilns, and new solar panels will enable the Pottery to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency and sustainability.
GHP’s presence in Greenwich Village plays an important role in the cultural, economic, and social vibrancy of our community. I offer my resounding support for this project, which will ensure GHP can remain at 16 Jones Street for decades to come.
Sincerely,