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 azure arts Studio Use and Class Policies

Students enrolled in adult classes must be 18 years or older.

Private Classes

• Private classes are intended for 1 to 2 students only. Classes must be a minimum of 1 hour. A shorter amount of time may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

• Registration for private classes guarantees a student’s day and time. A minimum of three classes must be prepaid at the time of registration. This can be done on the azure arts website, in-person or through Venmo. An invoice can also be issued upon request.

• Classes cancelled 5-days or more before the scheduled date will be refunded or credited toward another class less a $30 processing fee.

• Classes or sessions cancelled 4-days or less before a scheduled class are non-refundable as the time slot for the class is being reserved and guaranteed upon registration for a student or student(s).

• Also see general policies for all classes below.

8-week Classes

• Registration

  • Registration for a class guarantees a student’s spot for the day and time in which registered. Students are responsible for payment for the class immediately upon registration or by the deadline set by the studio. Class fees must be paid 3-weeks or earlier before the start of the next session or the spot will not be held.

  • Students who are currently enrolled in classes and do not register for the next session will be moved to the bottom of the wait list if they wish to enroll in future classes.

  • Class registrations cancelled 15-days prior to the start of a class session will receive a full refund less a $30 processing fee.

  • Class registrations cancelled 14-days or less prior to the start of a class session or after the start of the session are non-refundable. Upon registration your spot in the class is being guaranteed. After a late cancellation, the studio is often unable to fill the spot. It also prevents someone else from taking a class.

  • The Studio does not offer refunds for missed classes or prorate the class fee whether or not the studio staff or instructor is notified in advance.

Membership

• Three options are available for memberships including a general annual membership, the studio artist membership and open studio with class registration (see below). Each membership has unique benefits. Studio artist members must be familiar with the studio and have taken at least three classes at azure arts studio prior to signing up for membership. All general policies apply to members and students alike. Please inquire with Christina for further information about membership options.

Open Studio with Class Registration

• Open studio is available for students currently enrolled in classes allowing students extra time to work independently and practice skills. Students may opt for the open studio with class registration membership which provides access to the studio during the respective 8-week session.

• Without a membership, open studio is $10/hour.

• General questions may be answered, but instruction is not provided during open studio. Studio instructors and staff may not be available during this time.

• Children, guests and anyone not associated with the studio should not be brought to open studio.

Access

• Members and students who have taken classes for two or more sessions may be given a unique keypad code for access to the studio through the side entrance. This is at the discretion of the owner of the studio. The keypad code may be disabled at any time if policies of the studio are not followed, the studio is not respected, fees are not paid or at the discretion of the owner. The keypad code is for the students use only and should not be given out to any other individual without exception.

• After an open studio session lights and music should be turned off and the studio locked using the keypad. (Do not lock the handle on the side entrance door.)

• This includes use of the studio including wheels, slab roller, extruder, community tools, slips, etc. The fee should be paid prior to or within 5-days of an open studio session.

Use and Clean-Up

• Out of courtesy for others, all equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and/or put away including wedging boards, extruder, slab roller, community tools, sinks, tables and stools. Also see cleaning and equipment under general policies.

 Hours

• Regular open studio hours will be set each session and students will be notified by email or at the start of each session by the instructor. Extended studio hours may be available before or after class times, weekends or when the studio is not in use for classes, workshops, kiln firing or otherwise unavailable. These hours are subject to change at anytime and without notice.

• Everyone participating in open studio must sign in and out on the clipboard hung on the wall to the right of the entry door.

Workshops

• Workshop registrations cancelled 7-days or more before the scheduled date and time will receive a full refund or credit toward another workshop less a $30 processing fee.

• Workshops registrations cancelled 6-days or less in advance of the scheduled date are non-refundable. Upon registration the spots in a workshop, date and time are being guaranteed.

• azure arts is not responsible for the reimbursement or credit of per person fees for members of your party who are unable to attend a workshop as booked.

• We work with a wide range of people teaching both wheel throwing and hand building. A reservation is required in advance for all members of your group who attend a workshop or class. If additional members attend over and above your reservation, space and materials may not be available to accommodate them during the workshop.

• Children and infants under the age of 4 should not be in attendance at a workshop. Due to nature of the medium and fragility of student work it is unsafe for children and infants below this age.

• Pots must be picked up within 6-weeks of notification that they are ready. After that time, pots may not be stored without prior arrangement. Pots will be shipped within 5-days of the final firing.

Guest Artist Workshops

• Workshop registrations cancelled 30-days prior to the date of a scheduled workshop will receive a full refund less $30 processing fee. After that time, registration fees are non-refundable as your spot in the workshop is being guaranteed upon registration.

General Policies for all Classes, Workshops and Members

Unclaimed Work and Tools

• All pottery made in a class session must be picked up within 4-weeks of notification that pots are fired. After this time pottery may be discarded.

• Tools or other property left at the studio 4-weeks after the end of a class session will become the property of the studio. All other personal belongings (towels, aprons, etc.) will be discarded. The exception is if a student is registered for the subsequent session or taking ongoing classes.

Make-Up Classes

• Students have the opportunity to make-up a class (except for the glazing class) if it must be missed. Note that this is a courtesy and is not a common practice at community studios! Make-up class days and times will be scheduled before the start of each respective session. These are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. All missed classes must be made up by the 7th class session, respectively. No exceptions will be made.

• General questions may be answered during make-up classes. Individual and group instruction is not provided.

• Glazing classes can not be made up through open studio or make-up classes. Glazing takes place during the final class only. If a glazing session must be missed, a student may join another class during that week with permission of the instructor and if space allows. If pots are not glazed during the session a student registered for, the student may register for a private session and pay the associated private class fee. All unglazed pots left at the studio 4-weeks after the session a student registered for may be discarded.

• The exception to the above is for advanced students only or with special permission from the studio owner.

Glazing and Kiln Firings

• If students are taking an 8-week class, all wet work must be finished by the conclusion of the 7th class for the final bisque firing. Pots that are too thick or too wet for the final firing may not be loaded into the kiln and fired. This is at the discretion of the person loading the kiln.

• All pots must have a 1/4” glaze line above the bottom of the pot. Pots that are not wiped clean, the glaze line is too low, glazes appear to be too thick or too many glazes are used may not be fired until the glazing issue is corrected.

• Students are responsible for the damage and replacement of kiln brick, shelves, thermocouples or other kiln equipment if the kiln parts must be replaced as a result of errors in glazing such as running glazes, faulty glazing, untested glazes or clays that do meet the studio firing temperature of cone 5/6.

• All glazed pottery will be fired within three weeks after the last class. Students will be notified when all pottery is ready to be picked up.

• Pottery made independently by current or former students outside of classes and the studio may be fired at the studio the discretion of the owner. Those who wish to fire independent work must be a studio artist member. Firing fees apply, see clay and firing below. The studio does not rent kiln space.

Clay and Firing

• Firing tickets are provided for the amount of clay received with a class registration. Twenty-five pound bags of new or reclaim clay (when available) can be purchased, as well as firing tickets. Each firing ticket includes bisque and glaze firings. The fees for clay and firing are subject to change based on current retail prices of all materials and related costs.

• Greenware left without tickets will not be fired.

• Fees for firing oversized pieces above 10” height and 10” diameter/width will be assessed by the studio owner and may incur an additional fee.

• Only white clay can be used in the studio. If students have a studio at home in which to work, other clays and glazes may be used with prior approval and testing. The studio will bisque and glaze fire mid-range, cone 5/6 clays only with approval of the studio owner. Test tiles of all clays must be fired first. All glazes must also be tested for safety, clay/glaze fit, running and any issues associated with the chemistry of the glaze(s).

• The studio and staff do not take responsibility for any issues resulting from clay or glazes purchased outside the studio. Please see the policy regarding damage to the kiln above in glazing and kiln firings.

Cleaning and Equipment Use

• The goal of the studio is to keep all clay and glaze dust at a minimum. Clay and glaze dust is a respiratory irritant and can cause serious health problems over time. For this reason, all clay and glaze spills should be cleaned up immediately. Surfaces including wedging boards, work tables, wheels, stools, etc. as well as tools should be kept as clean as possible at all times.

• As a general rule, please leave all equipment in the condition and state in which you found it or better. This means cleaning all wheels, slab roller, extruder, wedging boards, tools, sinks, etc. thoroughly. Only water and a soft sponge should be used for cleaning all surfaces, especially wheel heads and other metal surfaces so they do not corrode, rust or oxidize.

• Metal tools such as ribs, needle tools and trim tools should be used with discretion and caution on the wheel heads as they can cause irreparable damage if misused.

• Hard plastic tools and scrapers can also damage wheel heads and should only be used to clean wedging boards.

• Cutting on wood or plaster surfaces is also highly discouraged due to the resulting damage that can be caused.

• Please use all equipment in the studio responsibly. Please refrain from using studio equipment if new to you without prior training.

• Any damaged or broken equipment must be reported immediately to the instructor or studio owner.

Etiquette:

• ·The primary goal at azure arts is to provide a creative, inspiring, and safe space for everyone where they can feel accepted and comfortable. Idea sharing and socializing are highly encouraged but people trying to work independently should be respected.

• Behavior that is unsafe, threatening, or violent toward others, lack of respect for studio property, others’ personal property, personal space and boundaries, theft, unwanted sexual advances or comments, or any other highly disruptive behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

By registering for a class or attending open studio at azure arts, you agree to follow the above policies and guidelines. azure arts reserves the right to suspend class or workshop enrollment or open studio access to those who do not follow the studio policies and guidelines, have outstanding bills or become disruptive to the studio environment and community. Policies, guidelines, and fees may be updated at any time without advance notice.