Stan Cowen, Charlie Parker and Russ Gustafson-Hilton founded St. Petersburg Clay Company, Inc. in 1996. The St. Petersburg Clay Company focused on four areas - studio space rental, retailing of clay supplies, gallery sales and education. Originally located in a former machine shop comprising 6000 square feet, the company doubled in size in 1997. Still unable to meet the needs of an ever-growing public interest in clay, the search began for a new facility.

At about this same time, The St. Petersburg Clay Company (SPCC) was contacted by Highwater Clays, located in Asheville, N.C. and asked to become their Florida distributor of clay, supplies and materials. Two years later, an agreement was reached between the two companies that resulted in a new partnership. Highwater Clays leased SPCC's retail business, allowing SPCC to focus more time on its partners' original vision of creating the premiere ceramic facility in the United States.

Our pursuit of excellence begins with our facililites. A 16th Century Japanese-style anagama kiln, a wood-firing train kiln, soda and salt atmostpheric gas kilns, 2 Minnesota flat top gas kilns, a pit kiln, raku kilns and over a dozen electric kilns provide the member artists of SPCC a complete array of firing possibilities. Along with our kilns, our members have acess to all studio equipment including slab-rollers, extruders, work and wedging tables, clay mixers and an expansive glaze mixing area all contained in an historic 1920s train depot.

For more information on our facilities or memberships, please visit us or contact us at (727) 896-CLAY Tuesday through Saturday, 10am - 5pm.