Artist & Composer Talk
This collaborative talk brings together two internationally recognized artists and two cornerstone West Virginia arts institutions through a shared exploration of art, music, place, and the environmental changes shaping the world around us.
Wonder Lab: Chem Lab: Reactions
Watch chemistry come alive as bubbling, fizzing, and colorful reactions reveal the difference between physical and chemical changes. You'll make predictions, perform experiments, and discover the clues scientists use every day.
Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series Presents: Ode to Joy
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Still Life: Drawing From Life Exhibit Closing
The Juliet Art Museum invites visitors to engage directly with the art-making process while exploring rarely exhibited still life works from our permanent collection. This exhibition highlights the richness and diversity of still life as a genre, showcasing a range of artistic approaches and styles across time.
Annie presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, in collaboration with the Clay Center, presents Annie to the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center.
Halloween Discovery Family Fun Day presented by the City of Charleston - FREE Admission
Get ready for a scary good time at the Clay Center’s Halloween Discovery Family Fun Day! Join us for a FREE spooktacular celebration filled with Halloween festival games, creepy science experiments, hands-on art activities, and a few unexpected guests from the past.
Annie presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, in collaboration with the Clay Center, presents Annie to the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center.
$2 Admission for SNAP & WIC Participants
Enjoy admission to the Clay Center for just $2 per person on the first Sunday of each month with a valid SNAP or WIC card and photo ID.
Annie presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, in collaboration with the Clay Center, presents Annie to the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center.
Early Explorers - The Ant and the Elephant by Bill Peet
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - The Ant and the Elephant by Bill Peet
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Annie presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, in collaboration with the Clay Center, presents Annie to the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center.
Wonder Lab: Extreme Art Challenges
Can you create amazing art under unusual conditions? Put your creativity to the test with fun engineering-inspired art challenges that encourage problem-solving, experimentation, and imagination.
Annie presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, in collaboration with the Clay Center, presents Annie to the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center.
Annie presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, in collaboration with the Clay Center, presents Annie to the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center.
Discovery Day Camp: Mystery at the Museum
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Lou Harris | Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series
Get ready to experience the iconic hits of Usher and Justin Timberlake like never before! Blending smooth saxophone melodies with the infectious rhythms of R&B and pop, Cleveland-based saxophonist Lou Harris brings an electrifying twist to the 2000s hits you know and love.
Early Explorers - Sun and Moon by Marcus Pfister
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Sun and Moon by Marcus Pfister
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
STEM FEST
Get ready to think big, experiment boldly, and discover the wonders of STEM at the Clay Center’s second annual STEM Fest!
SCI Talk: Stargazing and Beyond
Learn about the wonders of astronomy before experiencing it yourself with telescopes and hot chocolate in the Susan Runyan Maier Sculpture Garden! Includes Sci-Talk presentation and Star Party led by our Planetarium & Science Educator, Shannon Silverman.
Homeschool Days: Good Vibrations: Booms, Buzzes, & Banjos!
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Early Explorers - A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series Presents: Piano Dreams and Dances
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Discovery Day Camp: Appalachian Adventures - Day 1
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Wonder Lab: Dinosaur Excavation Challenge
Families excavate mystery dinosaur bones, develop their own theories, reconstruct prehistoric creatures, and defend their scientific conclusions.
Discovery Day Camp: Appalachian Adventures - Day 2
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Wonder Lab: Prehistoric Observation Journals
Families investigate fossil replicas through crayon rubbings and careful observation before creating their own scientific illustrations of prehistoric creatures.
Wonder Lab: Fossil Slime
Create clear "amber slime" inspired by fossils preserved in amber. A fun, hands-on STEAM activity perfect for younger audiences.
THE BODYGUARD
Based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD is a thrilling, romantic musical that combines high-stakes suspense with unforgettable music.
Early Explorers - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
ZMM Architects and Engineers Pops Series presents: Sounds of the Season
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
$2 Admission for SNAP & WIC Participants
Enjoy admission to the Clay Center for just $2 per person on the first Sunday of each month with a valid SNAP or WIC card and photo ID.
Early Explorers - Frosty the Snowman by Diane Muldrow
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Frosty the Snowman by Diane Muldrow
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
The Nutcracker presented by Charleston Ballet and WV Symphony
No holiday season is complete without The Charleston Ballet and WVSO’s beloved production of THE NUTCRACKER.
Family Gingerbread Workshop
Families are invited to our annual gingerbread workshop to decorate a premade gingerbread house however they please! Guests can enjoy light refreshments and holiday music while choosing from candy and icing decorations, all provided by The Clay Center.
You bring the creativity, and we’ll take care of the rest!
Santa Saturday
Get ready for a holiday experience like no other! Join us for a magical day filled with festive fun as Santa himself makes a special stop to meet the kids!
The Nutcracker presented by Charleston Ballet and WV Symphony
No holiday season is complete without The Charleston Ballet and WVSO’s beloved production of THE NUTCRACKER.
The Nutcracker presented by Charleston Ballet and WV Symphony
No holiday season is complete without The Charleston Ballet and WVSO’s beloved production of THE NUTCRACKER.
CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE
CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE dazzles with a brilliantly breathtaking holiday spectacular for the entire family.
Early Explorers - Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
ZMM Architects and Engineers Pops Series presents: Home Alone in Concert
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Night at the Museum
The Clay Center has transformed into a giant escape room, and your team must work together to find its way out! Explore the museum after dark as you work through challenges to crack the code!
ZMM Architects and Engineers Pops Series presents: Home Alone in Concert
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Discovery Day Camp: Tiny Science & Underdogs - Day 1
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Discovery Day Camp: Tiny Science & Underdogs - Day 2
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Discovery Day Camp: Tiny Science & Underdogs - Day 3
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Winter WonderLabs
Looking for something to do over winter break? Shake off those winter wiggles and come to the Clay Center for our Winter Wonderlabs at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM each day! Families will explore different STEAM topics together and make some chilly discoveries along the way!
Winter WonderLabs
Looking for something to do over winter break? Shake off those winter wiggles and come to the Clay Center for our Winter Wonderlabs at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM each day! Families will explore different STEAM topics together and make some chilly discoveries along the way!
Winter WonderLabs
Looking for something to do over winter break? Shake off those winter wiggles and come to the Clay Center for our Winter Wonderlabs at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM each day! Families will explore different STEAM topics together and make some chilly discoveries along the way!
Winter WonderLabs
Looking for something to do over winter break? Shake off those winter wiggles and come to the Clay Center for our Winter Wonderlabs at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM each day! Families will explore different STEAM topics together and make some chilly discoveries along the way!
Noon Year’s Eve
Can’t stay up until midnight? No problem! Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to celebrate 2027 at NOON!
Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs Exhibit Closing
Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs, an immersive travelling dinosaur exhibit produced by the Miami Children’s Museum, will open on September 26, 2026 and will run until January 3, 2027 at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia.
I am Wild: A Charley Harper Exhibit Closing
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit West Virginia, inspired by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s 2025 exhibition, I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit, closes at The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia on January 3rd, 2027.
Early Explorers - Goodnight Sun by Eoin Mclaughlin and Morag Hood
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Goodnight Sun by Eoin Mclaughlin and Morag Hood
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Dogs in Space by Nancy Coffelt
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Dogs in Space by Nancy Coffelt
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Discovery Day Camp: Walk the Plank: Pirates
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
Barrie Kaufman: Life Leading to the Arctic Exhibit Closing
Barrie Kaufman: Life Leading to the Arctic charts the evolution of her career, bringing together landmark series and rarely seen works from institutional and private collections, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full arc of Kaufman’s artistic journey—from early investigations to the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition to create in direct response to the environmental realities of the Arctic.
Homeschool Days: Glow Crazy: The Science of Light & Color
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Early Explorers - Reach for the Stars by Emily Calandrelli and Honee Jang
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Reach for the Stars by Emily Calandrelli and Honee Jang
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Up, Up, and Away by Margaret Hiller and Robert Mash
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
Early Explorers - Up, Up, and Away by Margaret Hiller and Robert Mash
Early Explorers invites our youngest Explorers to discover the world through stories, music, play, and hands-on activities!
2027 Carnaval: The Art of Illusion Presented by The Ruth & J O Stone Foundation
This year’s celebration, “The Art of Illusion,” will bring an evening of creativity, entertainment, and unexpected experiences to life throughout the building.
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL
Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is the uplifting true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon.
ZMM Architects and Engineers Pops Series presents: Beer, Brats, and Brahms
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Homeschool Days: Think It, Tinker It, Build It!
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Nicole Zuraitis | Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series
Experience the artistry of Nicole Zuraitis, a two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz vocalist, singer-songwriter, pianist, and bandleader. As founder of the Modern Songbook Society, she continues to champion original music and expand the future of jazz.
Joe Bonamassa
Blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa has announced a new run of Spring 2027 U.S. tour dates, bringing one of today’s most celebrated live guitarists back to theaters and performing arts centers across the country.
Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series Presents: Music in Motion
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Anthony Hervey | Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series
Come experience the music of Anthony Hervey, American trumpeter and emerging artist that has captivated audiences worldwide both as a sought-after sideman and a visionary bandleader.
Homeschool Days: Wild, Wacky Weather Works!
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series Presents: Music for Spring
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Sesame Street Live - Elmo’s Got the Moves
Make unforgettable memories with your little ones at Elmo’s Got the Moves—the all-new Sesame Street Live show coming to your neighborhood!
LowDown Brass Band | Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series
LowDown Brass Band is a high-energy horn ensemble blending the power of brass with conscious hip hop, reggae, soul, and the raw pulse of the city.
BEETLEJUICE
He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to Charleston, WV.
Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series Presents: Opera in Concert! The Marriage of Figaro
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
Homeschool Days: Our Amazing World!
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Disney’s Newsies Jr. presented by Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Disney’s Newsies JR. is a 60-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film.
Disney’s Newsies Jr. presented by Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Disney’s Newsies JR. is a 60-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film.
Disney’s Newsies Jr. presented by Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Disney’s Newsies JR. is a 60-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film.
Brass Queens | Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series
Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019.
ZMM Architects and Engineers Pops Series presents: Tony DeSare: The Music of Billy Joel
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
World Ballet Company: Swan Lake
World Ballet Company’s Swan Lake combines stunning choreography, elaborate costumes, and 50 international dancers with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by an orchestra.
World Ballet Company: Swan Lake
World Ballet Company’s Swan Lake combines stunning choreography, elaborate costumes, and 50 international dancers with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by an orchestra.
THE WIZ
Everybody look around, there’s reason to rejoice! The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back.
Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series Presents: Season Finale!
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has grown tremendously from when it started in 1939 as a partnership with local chemical plants in Charleston, WV.
WAITRESS
“WAITRESS is a little slice of heaven!” says Entertainment Weekly, and is “sweet, sassy and passionate,” according to New York Magazine.
Unscripted Jazz with Gerald Veasley | Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series
Enjoy an unforgettable evening of immersive, electrifying jazz as we close out the 2027 Cecil I. Walker Jazz Series!
Old Crow Medicine Show
The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia is proud to announce that acclaimed Americana string band Old Crow Medicine Show will perform live on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM.
2027 Carnaval Theme Reveal
The Clay Center invites patrons and supporters to join us at Prime 101 from 5:00–7:00 PM on Thursday, October 15, for the official 2027 Carnaval Theme Reveal.
Homeschool Days: Dinosaur / Fossils
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Ailey II
The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia is proud to welcome Ailey II, the acclaimed second company of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to Charleston for a special one-night performance on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
JERSEY BOYS
The original Broadway sensation returns to the road! Celebrating 20 years - Jersey style!
Dear John: Celebrating John Prine's 80th Birthday
Come together to celebrate John Prine’s 80th birthday with an evening of music!
Wonder Lab: Fossil Detectives
Become a junior paleontologist as you excavate fossils, examine ancient clues, and create your own fossil impressions. Learn how scientists uncover Earth's prehistoric past one discovery at a time.
Discovery Day Camp: Dinosaur Detectives - Day 2
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
We Are Open!
School may be out, but the Clay Center is open! Join us for a full day of discovery across our hands-on science and art exhibits. Perfect for families looking for an engaging and educational day off.
Discovery Day Camp: Dinosaur Detectives - Day 1
Enjoy Discovery Day Camps at the Clay Center!
$2 Admission for SNAP & WIC Participants
Enjoy admission to the Clay Center for just $2 per person on the first Sunday of each month with a valid SNAP or WIC card and photo ID.
Back in Time | Museum After Hours
During this adults-only Museum After Hours, Back in Time travel from the prehistoric era to the 80s & 90s with themed drinks, dinosaur activities, and plenty of nostalgia!
Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. presented by Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Finding Nemo Jr. follows the heartwarming journey of a young clownfish, Nemo, who is captured on his first day of school and taken far from home.
Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. presented by Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Finding Nemo Jr. follows the heartwarming journey of a young clownfish, Nemo, who is captured on his first day of school and taken far from home.
Barrie Kaufman: Life Leading to the Arctic Opening Reception
Barrie Kaufman: Life Leading to the Arctic charts the evolution of her career, bringing together landmark series and rarely seen works from institutional and private collections, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full arc of Kaufman’s artistic journey—from early investigations to the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition to create in direct response to the environmental realities of the Arctic.
Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs Exhibit Opening
Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs, an immersive travelling dinosaur exhibit produced by the Miami Children’s Museum, will open on September 26, 2026 and will run until January 3, 2027 at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia.
Barrie Kaufman: Life Leading to the Arctic Exhibit Opening
Barrie Kaufman: Life Leading to the Arctic charts the evolution of her career, bringing together landmark series and rarely seen works from institutional and private collections, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full arc of Kaufman’s artistic journey—from early investigations to the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition to create in direct response to the environmental realities of the Arctic.
Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. presented by Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Finding Nemo Jr. follows the heartwarming journey of a young clownfish, Nemo, who is captured on his first day of school and taken far from home.
Member Preview: Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs Exhibit
Clay Center Members will have the opportunity to be the first to experience “Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs” during an exclusive member preview event on Friday, September 25, from 5:30–7:30 PM.
Homeschool Days: Wild Builders & Beastly Blueprints
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.
Wonder Lab: Berry Lab: Taste & DNA
Experience the surprising science of miracle berries as they transform the way your taste buds experience sour foods, then extract real DNA from strawberries to discover the building blocks found inside every living thing.
$2 Admission for SNAP & WIC Participants
Enjoy admission to the Clay Center for just $2 per person on the first Sunday of each month with a valid SNAP or WIC card and photo ID.
Art Takeover
Art Takeover is a museum-wide celebration of creativity that transforms the entire museum into a living art studio.
Infinite Bounds Exhibit Closing
Infinite Bounds: Women in Art through the Decades closes August 30, 2026 in the Juliet Art Museum. This exhibition invites visitors on a journey through time, celebrating the vision, innovation, and impact of women artists across generations. Drawing from the Juliet Art Museum’s permanent collection alongside select featured works, this exhibition highlights the evolving voices, styles, and stories that have shaped the art world.
The Legacy: A New Ballet from the music of Mark Scarpelli
Mark Scarpelli’s music lives again in The Legacy: A New Ballet from the Music of Mark Scarpelli.
The Legacy: A New Ballet from the music of Mark Scarpelli
Mark Scarpelli’s music lives again in The Legacy: A New Ballet from the Music of Mark Scarpelli.
SCI Talk: Black Holes: Beyond the Event Horizon
Black Holes are some of the most famous and well-known objects in astronomy, but they’re also some of the most mysterious. But what exactly ARE black holes?
Wonder Lab: Sew a Microbe Plushie
Stitch your very own plush microorganism while learning about the tiny cells that make up all living things. Add organelles and create a soft scientific model to take home.
Homeschool Days: Cosmic Explorers: Blast Off & Beyond!
Join us for Homeschool Days, an experience where students and parents partake in a series of educational programming designed to spark creativity and imagination.