The Pottery Studio Policies and Fees

We are happy to have you as part of our studio community here at The Pottery Studio. 

To keep the studio running smoothly, safely, cleanly, and happily, we have a few rules that must be followed by all. 

Thank you for helping us to keep this a fine place to work and a community we can all be happy and proud to be part of.

Registration

Currently enrolled students are allowed first priority for enrollment in the next session.  Written or verbal confirmation of re-enrollment is required at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the next session. If you choose not to re-enroll at that time, your space will be given to someone else and you will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list and will have to wait to get to the top if you want to take another class in the future. Payment in full is typically due on the date of the first class of the session. Registration for a class is a commitment to pay for the class.  Cancellations within two weeks of the start of a session will forfeit any registration fee paid and/or move the student off the active class list and to the bottom of the wait list.  The Studio is often unable to fill last minute cancellations and that costs us a registration fee and prevents someone else from taking a class. If you know that you can’t attend please do not wait until the last minute to let us know. Regular class students must be at least 18 years of age. 

Class Fees

The class fee is a set price for the whole session and is not prorated if a student misses a class.  There are no make-up classes and there will be no refunds for missed class, regardless of whether or not The Studio is notified in advance.  Occasionally there may be room for a student to attend a class on a different night of the week, but this is not guaranteed and will be evaluated or permitted only on a case-by-case basis.

Classroom Hours and Schedule

Scheduled class sessions typically last for 8 weeks and run approximately 5 times per year.  Sessions are generally mid-January to mid-March; March - April/May; May - June (short session); mid-August to mid-October; and mid-October to early December.  Regular classes pause for a break during the middle of summer for other activities in the studio.  

Weekly class times are 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm for evening sessions and 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for daytime classes.  The studio classroom is open for 1 hour before class and 1 hour after class for self-guided work. For evening classes this is from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, and morning classes from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.  Instructors are not necessarily available for assistance outside of the scheduled two-hour class times. Open Studio is from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm on Thursdays during scheduled class sessions only.  These times must be adhered to.  Students are not permitted to come to class early or stay late as we may have other events scheduled outside of class times.

Given the limited equipment and space, class sessions are intended only for the students enrolled in that specific class.  Students should not expect to attend other class sessions or bring guests to class, except by special permission.  

Open Studio Thursday

Open studio time is intended for self-guided practice and work time. It is included in the class registration fee for currently enrolled students.  General assistance may be available for basic studio needs and quick questions, but complex building and glazing instruction are not available during open studio time. 

Open studio access may be purchased by former students provided they have completed at least two full class sessions and are in good standing (all bills paid).  Open studio time for former students includes access to all studio tools, but it does not include any clay, materials, or firings (must be purchased separately) nor does it include individual shelving/storage space, or any instruction while at open studio.  The fee is the same regardless of how much of the day is utilized.

Wheels and table space will be “first come, first served.”  Occasionally a guest may be brought by a current student to Open Studio with advanced permission and payment of an open studio fee for the guest.  Priority will be given to current students over guests for available wheel and table space during Open Studio.  Any student bringing a guest is responsible completely for their guest - following all studio policies, clean up, taking care of any work made through all processes, and with any help needed.  Children under 18 are not permitted at the studio except by limited special permission and must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We enjoy children, but The Studio is intended as a place for adults and regularly having children in the space can be a distraction to other students.

Clean up

A clean studio is a healthy studio.  If you use it, clean it up. All students must follow the studio cleanup procedures and policies.  Everyone is responsible for cleaning their own tools and wheel as well as any communal areas, tables, tools, and equipment used, including the extruder.  You must mop the floor around your wheel when you are done throwing, sweep after trimming, and wipe down and dry any table surfaces used.  All studio tools must be returned to the location that they were found after they are cleaned, this includes putting brushes and glaze utensils back in their original locations.  All tools, devices, boards, equipment, and supplies are intended for use at The Pottery Studio only and may not be taken out of the building. Students using red clay should be particularly mindful to clean up completely so that the red clay does not accidentally contaminate the white clay used by other students.  

Clay and Glaze

Specific Cone 6 mid-range clay and glazes are used in and supplied by The Studio.  The fee for clay, glaze, and firings is all combined and built into the cost of the clay purchased by students.  No outside clay or glazes are permitted in the studio except by special permission.  Any outside clay or glaze must first be approved before they will be fired - this includes every jar of glaze purchased by students.  If an outside glaze is fired and has not been approved and runs onto kiln shelves or has an adverse effect on any of The Studio’s equipment, the student will be responsible for the replacement cost of any damaged equipment.  If a student is permitted to use an outside clay, there will be a separate fee charged for firing that clay.  The studio does not provide any special firing apparatus - bead racks, stilts, etc.  If these are supplied by students, the studio is not responsible for any damage that may occur when used at the studio - pre-, during or post-firing.  

Towels

Small studio hand towels are available for student use and are for drying your hands, not cleaning up glaze or clay.  Sponges are for cleaning (and do a much better job) and towels are for drying. Please try to use your sponge and water more and towels less.  All towels used for clay should be prewashed in the prewash sinks before being put in the dirty towel bucket.

Underglazes

A selection of underglazes are available for student use. The selection may change as prices fluctuate.  We are happy to provide them to you for decorating, but please don't waste them.  They cost $23-60+ per bottle.  It is OK to use the underglaze straight from the container, unless you need to do some color mixing, and then please only mix what you are going to use in one of the small white containers.  If you need to put a single color underglaze in a small container, please return as much as possible back in the big bottle when you are done.  Again, they are very expensive.  Also - they are for your use here at the studio.  If you want to work on decorating at home, you will need to purchase your own underglazes.  We can't send them home with anyone - sorry.

Glazing

All pieces must be cleaned properly before they will be fired.  If there is glaze on the bottom of your piece or too much glaze, it may not be fired until fixed to the satisfaction of the kiln loader.  You must leave AT LEAST 1/4" of unglazed area at the bottom of your pots.  This is the MINIMUM - If you are double dipping, the second color should not go all the way to the bottom on the outside of the piece.  Glaze runs and drips that go onto the kiln shelves will incur a glaze fine.  For every three instances (strikes) of glaze running onto the studio shelves, a $10 fine will be incurred.  These “strikes” can be avoided by placing cookies under your pieces.  If the glaze runs on to the cookie, no problem; if it runs off the cookie and onto the shelf, it will be considered a strike.  If glaze runs on the kiln itself, ruins a shelf beyond normal wear, or does any other adverse harm to The Studio’s equipment, the student will be responsible for replacement cost of the damaged items including but not limited to kiln shelves, furniture, thermocouple, and bricks.

Firing Fees

Firing fees are included in the price of clay purchased by currently enrolled students or those paying for materials as part of Open Studio time. The fees only cover work made by that student or by those who pay for open studio time.  Work made by others not currently enrolled in a class or paying for open studio, will be subject to the studio’s outside firing fees, at the current per kiln-shelf rate regardless of whether the clay used was purchased at the studio or not.

Oversized items, pieces measuring more than 12” in any dimension but smaller than 16” in any dimension, will incur an additional $5 fee per item to cover the cost of firing larger work.  Work larger than 16” will incur at least an $8 per item fee, but may be more, commensurate to the size of the object.  This additional fee covers both the bisque and glaze firings.

Clay Recycling

The Studio currently offers pugging services to current students to recycle clay that was purchased at The Studio. This service is a courtesy not commonly offered by other studios and should be treated with kindness. If this service is abused it may be suspended. The alternative to having clay recycled and pugged by the studio is to wedge it yourself. Clay may be turned in to be pugged by currently enrolled students only. We will only pug the two varieties of clay we use at the studio: B-Mix 5 and #90.   There is a pugging “fee" of 20% of the clay weight with a minimum of 1# per pugging session.  This modest amount is to cover the time incurred to process the clay. Example: if you turn in 10# of clay to be pugged, you will receive 8# back.  If you turn in 3# of clay, you will receive 2# back.  If the clay turned in is extremely wet/mushy or bone dry there will be a 50% fee by weight as this clay takes significantly more time and effort to recycle. Recycled clay may not be ready for up to one week from the time it is turned in. Please do not expect to receive recycled clay immediately when you turn it in as the process takes time and will only be done at The Studio’s convenience. Only clay used by actively enrolled students at The Studio is eligible for this service.  We will not pug clay that was used by anyone not currently enrolled in a class at The Pottery Studio.  

Concrete Table and Plaster Wedging Table 

If you use it, clean it.  Use the scraper to clean up chunks of clay and a wet sponge to wipe it down after. Please also clean the scraper when you are done. Clay should also not be thrown down hard onto the concrete table and it splatters onto the nearby kilns.

Pre-Washing 

The Studio is on a septic system and we need to be careful about how much clay goes down the drain.  To dramatically reduce the amount of clay going into the septic, we have a pre-wash system.  All tools must be pre-washed in the white sinks before being rinsed in the metal sink.  There are separate pre-wash sinks for white and brown clay. NO CLAY SHOULD BE GOING IN THE METAL SINK.  Everything should first be washed off in the white plastic pre-wash sinks.  Everything should be completely cleaned in there before doing a final rinse in the metal sink.  This includes hands if they are covered in clay.  Don't wash them under running water, use the pre wash sink to get the clay off, then rinse them under running water.  All things related to glazing however should be washed in the metal sink, not the pre-wash sinks.  The clay in the pre-wash sink gets recycled and cannot contain any glaze material in it.  

Unclaimed Work and Tools

Pottery, personal property, and tools left at the studio will only be kept for 1 month after the student has stopped taking classes.  After that point any tools will become The Studio’s property, and pieces of pottery may be discarded. The Studio is not responsible for any lost tools, property, or pieces belonging to the student while at the studio. Pottery and tools left at the studio during the summer break will only be retained for 1 month after the last open studio and may be discarded.

Safety

Everyone at the studio is responsible for their own safety.  The Studio is not responsible for any injury incurred while on The Studio premises.  Shoes must be worn at all times.  Caution should be used around all kilns, wheels, and other equipment.  During Raku firings especially, all safety warnings and procedures must be obeyed as well as wearing proper, nonflammable clothing and close-toed shoes.  

By enrolling in a class or attending open studio at The Pottery Studio, you are agreeing to follow the rules and regulations herein.  The Studio reserves the right to suspend class enrollment or open studio access to those who have outstanding bills, do not follow the studio rules outlined here, or become a disruption to other members of the community at the studio.   These studio rules may be updated or amended at any time without prior notice.

Fees (updated 8/21/2023)

• 8-week regular class: $240 per person ($30 per week)

• Short 6 or 7 week class: prorated based on $30 per week rate

• Open Studio Fee: $30 per Thursday, 9 am - 8 pm  (former students who are not currently enrolled or guests of current students)

• Clay, 25# bag: $45 (includes standard studio firings and use of standard studio glazes for students only)

• Outside clay firing fee: $32 per 25# (fee for firing outside clay brought into the studio by current students)

• Outside firing fee: $15 per kiln shelf (half circle measuring approximately 26” long by 13” deep and for items up to 6” high), larger will incur fee TBD by size (fee for firing objects made with outside clay and glaze)

• Oversized object firing fee: $5 per item 12” - 16” tall or wide

• Extra Oversized Object firing fee: $8 per item over 16” or more TBD by size

• Glaze Runs: $10 per every 3 occurrences