Archie Bray Foundation
Archie Bray Foundation
5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts (Bray) is a nonprofit, educational institution dedicated to the enrichment of the ceramic arts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located three miles from downtown Helena, Montana. Founded in 1951 on the site of the former Western Clay Manufacturing Company, the Bray was the first artist residency program in the United States devoted solely to ceramics. For over sixty years ceramic artists from around the world have come to the Bray to make artwork, share experiences and explore new ideas. The Bray also offers community ceramics classes for adults and children, exhibitions and special events throughout the year as well as specialized workshops in ceramics. The Bray’s facilities include year-round and seasonal artist studios, a community ceramics studio, sales gallery, rotating exhibition spaces, kiln facilities, and a retail ceramic supply business. The 26 acre grounds also display site-specific sculpture and artwork left by past resident artists.Galleries and grounds are open and free to the public throughout the year for the exhibition and sale of artwork by resident artists. The Sales Gallery is open Monday–Saturday from 10 am–5 pm and Sunday from 1–5 pm. A self-guided walking tour of the grounds is available anytime during daylight hours. Guided tours for larger groups are available by appointment. The Bray is located at 2915 Country Club Ave., just 1/3 mile West of Spring Meadow Lake.
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5.0
58 reviews
Excellent
47
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Radtel
Burnaby, Canada1,813 contributions
Sept 2016 • Friends
We dropped by here while we were between wedding functions (bride is employed by the foundation). We missed the turn off for here, as did 3 others that had been here before.
It was great to walk around the old site and take in some of the art.
Give yourselves a good hour or so, to enjoy the works of so many talented artists.
It was great to walk around the old site and take in some of the art.
Give yourselves a good hour or so, to enjoy the works of so many talented artists.
Written 28 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
onewickedb
Seattle, WA509 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
Whilst in town with friends, they suggested a visit to Archie Bray and as I was out-voted, I begrudgingly tagged along. I'm so glad that I did. This place isn't just for artists and potters, it's for folks who, like me, get bored at galleries, have no talent or interest when it comes to crafts and who bah humbug art museums.
The grounds are walkable and filled with all sorts of random pieces that may or may not fit the idea of "art" or "pottery" to folks. It was like a feast for the senses. I really had a blast here and would recommend it as a place to visit while in Helena.
The grounds are walkable and filled with all sorts of random pieces that may or may not fit the idea of "art" or "pottery" to folks. It was like a feast for the senses. I really had a blast here and would recommend it as a place to visit while in Helena.
Written 1 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Uptowndan
New York City, NY10 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Don't pass up a chance to visit/tour the Archie Bray Center in Helena, MT. I discovered this converted brick factory (one of the North America's oldest) during a recent trip and the visit was nothing short of transcendent. Tour the grounds where eclectic ceramic-based sculpture litters the stunning landscape. There's so much quirky culture in Helena but this is not to be missed.
Written 23 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
artmatterspgh
pittsburgh pa74 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
had heard of this place for ages and never dreamed i would visit. loved walking around the grounds to see all the outdoor sculpture, the broken and not perfect pieces left around buildings as if part of an archeological site. galkkery space, sales gallery. visit the artist studios. wonderful visit
Written 30 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OttoSeitz
Helena, MT31 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
This unique living art gallery is one of the hidden treasures for Helena. If you love art, you want to visit this place. Potters come (from across the world) to work here to extend, to challenge and to create new avenues of art. You can actually watch world class artists working at their trade.
Written 26 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cherie_Stordahl
Great Falls, MT5 contributions
Feb 2017 • Business
The Bray Clay business offers great quality clay for a fair and reasonable price. This is a great service for teachers wanting to offer students the experience of working with clay. They also offer a variety of tools needed to work with the clay.
Written 25 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Discerning67
Spokane126 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
In the world of ceramic artists, this place is reknowned and with good reason. The site is just out of town and situated on several acres. There are various buildings and studios, but the grounds themselves are fascinating as they are filled with reject wiorks accumulated over the years. The property has taken on the character of an archaeological site.
Written 21 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan S
Sun City, AZ23 contributions
Oct 2016 • Business
What a place! The grounds are filled with pottery and bricks from yesterday. The gallery had student's work which is mostly for sale. The staff very very friendly and knew the answers to all our questions. A fascinating slice of history still alive today.
Written 7 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen H
Seattle, WA13 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
If you're interested in ceramic art, especially what new artists are doing today, this is a must visit. The Foundation provides studio and gallery space for recipients of its fellowships. Guests are welcome to walk through most of the buildings on the site as long as you are respectful of the working artists' spaces. The history is also interesting...from a brick manufacturer to a prestigious space for working artists. There is interesting art to be seen wherever you look!
Written 31 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katryna C
Washington DC, DC67 contributions
Mar 2016 • Business
There is no other place like this. Definitely stop by to see the incredible studios, galleries and grounds all devoted to ceramics. It's just stunning!
Written 5 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The facility is really a place for potters and sculptors to study and to work. You can walk around the grounds at your leisure to see the sculptures and displays, see (and buy) the work of some recent artists in the shop,and perhaps catch the artists as they are working in their workshop. The Bray is more an artists haven and workshop where a few art-loving tourists come by to visit.
Written 5 August 2017
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