For many artists, the difference between continuing their work and putting it on hold isn't ability; it's resources.

That's where ThirdFire steps in.

ThirdFire was created to meet artists in those moments.

Because when artists have access to the right support, they don’t just continue, they grow.

Through community support, we’re able to provide:

Micro-grants ($50–$500) for materials, projects, and opportunities
Emergency funding during unexpected setbacks
Access to creative opportunities and visibility

Every contribution helps remove a barrier and creates space for something meaningful to move forward.

For Artists and Those Who Support Them

Our grants are designed to meet artists in real moments of need; whether it’s continuing a project, navigating an unexpected setback, or taking the next step in their work.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling monthly basis and are open to emerging artists with a connection to the Southeast (GA, AL, SC, NC, TN).

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this support, we encourage you to apply or share this opportunity.

Apply Here: https://form.jotform.com/252454595392163

This work is made possible through people who believe in supporting artists when it matters most. Through donations, sponsorships, and Clay It Forward memberships, ThirdFire is able to act quickly and thoughtfully, meeting artists where they are and helping them keep going.

When artists are supported, creativity doesn’t stall.

It expands. It evolves. It reaches more people.

And that impact starts with access.

April Grant Recipient Spotlight: Nicole Martin

Nicole Martin is an emerging ceramic artist born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Her first interaction with clay was at a one-day workshop where she made a bowl. This experience inspired her to delve deeper into the world of ceramics and take a pottery course at her local arts center. She was captivated by the clay's unique ability to preserve touch, time, and identity; what began as a hobby turned into a journey of exploration and self-expression. Currently, Nicole is a member at Spruill Center for the Arts where she primarily makes wheel-thrown vessels with a focus on form and function.

May Grant Recipient Spotlight: WYNU Pottery

Jermery Hall is a ceramic artist and educator based in Atlanta, Georgia. His work focuses on functional pottery that blends craftsmanship with unique forms and textured surfaces, creating pieces designed to be both visually engaging and practical for everyday use. Through wheel-throwing and experimentation with altered forms and glazing techniques, Jermery explores how functional objects can carry personality and tactile interest.

In addition to maintaining an active studio practice, Jermery is committed to arts education and community engagement. He teaches all-levels wheel-throwing pottery classes at Spruill Center for the Arts, where he guides students through the creative and technical aspects of working with clay. His work has been exhibited in galleries and exhibitions in Georgia and Alabama, including a solo exhibition at Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment in Huntsville, Alabama.

Jermery also co-operates a small pottery business (@wynupottery) with his partner, ceramic artist Elizabeth Campuzano. Together, they create colorful, texture-driven functional ceramics and continue building a collaborative studio practice rooted in craftsmanship, experimentation, and community connection.

June Grant Recipient Spotlight: Marlaina Lutz

Marlaina Lutz is an artist who creates functional ceramic objects. Originally from New Jersey, she began working with clay while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. After graduating, Lutz was the assistant manager of Gasworks NYC, a community clay studio in Brooklyn, NY. After three years in this position, Lutz moved to Logan, UT and earned an MFA from Utah State University. She was a Long-Term Resident at Red Lodge Clay Center and is currently a Long-Term Resident at Art Center West in Roswell, GA

Purchase Her Work: https://store.redlodgeclaycenter.com/collections/marlaina-lutz

July Grant Recipient Spotlight: Nandita Godbole

Nandita Godbole is an award-winning cookbook author, ethnobotanist, food journalist, and ceramic artist based in Roswell, Georgia. The founder of Curry Cravings™ LLC, Turmeric Press, and Mrttika by Nandita, she brings a rare depth to food media: 35 years of ethnobotanical research, two Master’s degrees, and a ceramic practice that is as central to her work as her writing.

Her seven cookbooks, read in more than 30 countries and all independently crowdfunded and produced in the USA, cover the full spectrum of Indian culinary tradition - from spice science and Ayurvedic wellness to regional feasts and pre-colonial food history. Her seventh, Masaleydaar, won the 2025 Gourmand World Cookbook Award. Her eighth, India in a Cup: From Gardens to Glasses (Turmeric Press, November 2026), is the first Indian drinks book to pair botanical beverage recipes with their historically corresponding ceramic vessels - a framework built on documented provenance spanning 2,000 years of Indian drink culture.

As a journalist and contributor, Nandita writes about food, drink, travel, and cultural heritage with a South Asian lens. Her bylines include the Washington Post, Food Network, Eater Atlanta, Saveur, BonAppetit, Forbes, CNN, BBC, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She is a member of the Atlanta Press Club, Roswell Clay Collective, Les Dames d’Escoffier, and serves on the Atlanta chapter board of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). Her ceramic studio, Mrttika by Nandita, produces hand-thrown vessels rooted in historical Indian pottery traditions.

Her residency at the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts positioned her as a rare voice at the intersection of food research and clay. Whether writing, speaking, or firing a kiln, Nandita’s work asks the same question: what do we carry forward, and what have we forgotten to ask about?