Call for Local Potters: Help Create Bowls for the 2026 Empty Bowls Fundraiser
The Octagon Center for the Arts and the Ames Community Arts Council are seeking local potters to help create handcrafted soup bowls for the 2026 Empty Bowls fundraiser, to be held this fall. A community bowl‑making day will take place on Sat., July 11, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with morning and afternoon sessions available.
The Octagon will provide clay, tools, wheels, and studio space—artists simply need to arrive ready to throw. Because space is limited, advance registration is required. Potters may reserve multiple time slots as needed and are asked to release any unused reservations so others may participate.
This volunteer opportunity is intended for individuals who are comfortable throwing independently, as instruction will not be provided. Participating potters must also commit to returning to the Octagon to trim their bowls in mid-July. Then, Octagon staff will glaze and fire all completed bowls.
Learn all the details and sign up here: Make a Bowl: Give a Bowl.
Questions may be directed to Beth Weninger at [email protected].
About the event: Empty Bowls is a global, grassroots movement that raises money for food-related charities and organizations to fight hunger. Participating artists create and donate bowls, then organizers serve a simple meal. Guests choose a bowl to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. In addition to the pottery being provided by local artists, local restaurants and grocery stores also donate to the project.
Coordinated by the Ames Community Arts Council and done in partnership with several arts organizations and numerous Ames artists, the third annual Empty Bowls will be held Sat., Nov. 7 at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation (2622 Lincoln Way, Ames). Funds from the event will benefit Gilbert Community School’s Backpack Buddies, the ISU Students Helping Our Peers (SHOP) food pantry, and the Ames Community School District, through a central HOPE (Helping Other People Eat) Pantry at the AMES Center, are partnering to organize an Empty Bowls event to address food insecurity for students across the community.
