Pewabic Pottery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ceramics center, working pottery, and educational facility on Detroit’s east side, has begun a search for a new executive director.
Current executive director Steve McBride, who has guided the Pottery for more than a decade, is retiring for health reasons. His last day is Sept. 30.
“Pewabic Pottery has been an amazing place to be a part of for the last decade,” said McBride. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a team of dedicated and passionate employees across a spectrum of disciplines that are housed within our national historic landmark—education, design, production, retail, manufacturing, tourism, history and art.”
Pewabic Board of Trustees Chair David Fox announced the transition plan to employees.
“We want to thank Steve for an exceptional job leading the pottery for the past 10 years,” Fox said. “Under his leadership, the Pottery team doubled its retail output, focused its tile production with new kilns and a capital campaign, organized vessel making in the Fire House, installed solar panels and a new air quality filtration system, and initiated a placemaking campaign to beautify the campus. We are extremely grateful for his service.
“Even amid national economic and social headwinds, nonprofit arts organizations like Pewabic have a unique opportunity to innovate, broaden access, and emerge stronger in the years ahead, proving that creativity thrives in the face of challenge,” Fox added.
The organization has a $4.5 million budget and employs approximately 50 people.
Fox went on to explain that the Pottery has begun looking for an interim Executive Director, and a search committee led by Laura Trudeau is in place to find a permanent Executive Director.
McBride joined Pewabic in 2015 after a decade at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Education is very important at Pewabic with 100 students taking classes at the Pottery at any one time. Pewabic is a key hosting organization for the 60th annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) national conference to be held in Detroit from March 25-28, 2026.
