Clay Membership Manual
Thank you for joining our Clay Membership Program! Whether you’re a seasoned clay enthusiast or a beginner, this manual will guide you through the ins and outs of our program. Let’s get started!
Culture of the Class
Our adult clay classes foster a collaborative and respectful learning environment. As a student, here are some important guidelines:
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Respectful Behavior: Please be considerate of your fellow students. Your actions, conversations, and overall demeanor should contribute positively to the creative atmosphere. Let’s support each other’s artistic journey.
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Teacher’s Discretion: If, for any reason, the teacher believes that a student’s behavior is not aligned with our standards or is disrupting the overall experience, the teacher reserves the right to cancel the student’s membership.
Duration of Classes
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Class Schedule: We offer adult clay classes throughout the year.
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Class Times:
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Monday: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Thursday: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Class Duration: All Adult Clay Classes are 2 hours unless otherwise specified.
Refunds and Cancellations
Refund Policy:
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If you plan to end your membership, please notify us at least 4 weeks prior to the start of a new month.
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An invoice for the following month’s payment will be posted to the student's Amilia account on the first (1st) of each month, applicable towards the current month.
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If cancellation occurs less than 2 weeks before the start of class, an 80% refund will be applied.
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No refunds will be given after the start of the first class.
Missed Classes
Make-Up Classes:
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Missed classes can be made up within 4 weeks.
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Attend our 3-hour open studio weekend offering to make up for missed class time.
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Alternatively, you may request to attend another class time (please refer to the teacher page on our website for contact information).
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Missed classes do not roll over into the following month.
Pausing Membership
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Members can request to have their membership paused for a maximum of two (2) months each calendar year
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During paused months, members are charged 50% of the regular monthly fee
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If a member does not rejoin at full membership after two (2) months, membership will be automatically forfeited
Dates of Studio Closure
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Canceled Classes: If a class is canceled, your instructor will notify you, and you will not be charged for that class.
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Inclement Weather Closures: In case of studio closures due to inclement weather, your teacher will contact you. If you do not receive communication at least 2 hours prior to the class start time, assume that the class will proceed as scheduled. However, please use your discretion and do not attend if you are uncomfortable with the conditions.
Ending Your Membership
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30-Day Notice: If you plan to end your membership, kindly provide your instructor with a 30-day notice. This time allows you to complete any ongoing projects so that you finish your work by the last day of your membership.
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Waitlist and Spot Filling: The instructor will use this notice period to contact the waitlist and fill your spot for the following month.
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Clear Your Shelf: Before leaving, please remove all items from your membership shelf.
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Leftover Clay: If you have leftover clay, please note that we cannot fire it for you after your membership ends unless you return to membership. Alternatively, you may choose to donate it back to the studio for use in our spare clay buckets.
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Unfinished Artwork: Any artwork that remains incomplete by the last class must be finished independently outside of the studio.
Ceramics Health & Safety Info
Glazes
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At our studio, we use non-toxic glazes as a standard practice.
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However, some glaze types may contain certain chemicals that could leach out. We’ve specifically listed these glazes (noted under the glaze sample) as not suitable for functional ware that you use for consuming food or drinks.
Clay
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All our clay comes from Rocky Mountain Clay.
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Most clay (except for speckled clay) is food safe and microwave safe. Note that this refers to the clay itself, not necessarily the glaze applied to it.
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Speckled clay contains specks from a metal (usually iron). While it’s safe to work with, avoid consuming food or drinks directly from unglazed speckled clay, as the metal could leach out trace amounts. Once glaze-fired with a shiny glaze, it becomes totally safe.
Dishwashers
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Using dishwashers is generally fine, but it may increase wear and tear on the pottery.
Glaze Types
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Shiny glazes or those with a glass-like finish are food safe.
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Matte glazes (like “Steely” or satin finishes) have a more porous surface. While the risk of leaching metal colorants is minimal, it’s essential to be aware, especially when purchasing pottery.
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If you encounter an artisan selling matte glaze for cookware, they might be a novice or less considerate of the user experience. 🍶🔥
Microwave
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If your glaze contains a metal it could react in the microwave.
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Metals often produce colors in glazes that are; blue (copper/cobalt), green (copper/cobalt), pink (rutile), red (iron), purple (rutile/cobalt), rust (iron)