ACCESS

• Each member receives a personalized pin code for the Studio door. Do not share this code. 

• All belongings, clay, tools and work must fit into each member’s assigned shelf space. 

• There is a 3 month minimum commitment for membership. 1st & last month must be paid at the start. If joining mid-month, the first month will be prorated. Membership must be paid monthly or quarterly, in full by the 1st of the month. There is a box in the studio to leave cash & check payments. If using cash, it must be in an envelope with your name and what month(s) you are paying for written on it. Credit card payments can be made online or in the shop. Automatic invoicing is an option.

• Members can access the studio from 6am-11pm

• Anyone using the studio must reserve time on the Studio Sign Up Sheet. If you will not be able to make the time you reserved you must take your name off the sheet. The sign up sheet only has blocks from 9am-9pm. If you will be coming in before 9am, just reserve the amount of time after 9am you will still be in the studio.

• Members are welcome in the studio during classes, but if a class is in progress, students have priority. 

• Last to leave checklist- if no one else is in the studio when you leave, regardless of time of day, you must make sure doors are locked, lights are off, and heat is down to Low in the winter. There is a “last to leave” checklist by the door.

• Visitors are always welcome in the studio, but are not permitted to make work without permission. If permission is granted there is a $20 day use fee.

• Members must read member emails! We periodically send emails with updates and important information about the studio. This is the best way to communicate, but it only works if the emails are read by everyone. 

• Written notice to terminate membership for the upcoming month must be given at least 7 days prior to the first of the month. Do not just mention your intent to leave verbally, please send an email. If notice is given less than 1 week prior to the end of the month you will be required to pay for the upcoming month. Shelves must be left clean. Items left on your shelf after the final day of your membership will be discarded.

CLEANING, DUST & SAFETY

• One of the most crucial goals we have is to minimize the amount of dust in the studio. Dust from clay & glaze is a respiratory irritant. Repeated exposure to silica dust can lead to long-term health problems. Leaving wet clay and glaze to dry on surfaces or the floor will lead to the dispersal of dust particles into the air we breathe. 

• It is the responsibility of all users to clean up any areas, equipment and tools they have used. The floor around your work area must be cleaned. Cleaning must be done with a damp sponge or mop. Sweeping of dried clay causes dust to become airborne for hours and is therefore prohibited. 

• Any sanding or grinding must be done outside, regardless of weather. Do not sand on the bench in the breezeway. 

• Strive to leave the studio CLEANER than you found it. If you notice something wasn’t put away or was left unclean by another user, please take a moment to wipe down or put it away. We ALL leave things by accident and someone will clean them up. Know that when you do it for someone else, it will get done for you ☺

• Absolutely no clay or glaze is to go down the sink drains. Make sure all clay is removed from hands before washing with soap and water in any of the sinks. 

• Use as little water as possible. Fresh water is not necessary for cleaning tools or work areas. 

• CLEAR wastewater and dirty mop water may be disposed of in the ditch outside the door in the glaze area.

• Studio towels are for drying clean hands only. You must use your own towel for throwing should you need one. 

• Do not use any equipment for the first time without proper instruction. 

• No one will load, unload, open, close, remove work from or operate the kilns without permission.

• The kitchenette is for everyone to use. Please clean up after yourself, wash dishes and wipe down surfaces as needed. Do not throw food waste in the studio garbage cans- please take it with you. Rinse recyclables thoroughly before placing in recycling bin.

• Feel free to use the refrigerator, but mark items with your name and do not leave food to go bad. The fridge will be cleaned regularly.

CLAY, GLAZE & FIRING

• Clay must be purchased from the studio. The price of clay includes a fee to cover some of the firing and glaze costs. 

• Members are not to take clay out of the glaze room without permission. Plan ahead and pay for more clay before you run out, either online or with cash or check in the studio drop box (write which clay you want on the cash envelope or check’s memo line). Clay that has been paid for will be placed on your shelf for you. 

• Use of any outside materials must be approved.

• All clay bags must be marked with your name and stored on your shelf. Unmarked clay will be absorbed into studio clay for kids classes and teacher demos.

• All work is to be clearly signed before bisque firing. Any unmarked work will be placed on the ‘Mystery” shelf and will not be fired. Check this shelf periodically for your work, as anything left too long will be discarded.

• Review and follow all glazing policies, which are posted in the glaze area. 

• No glaze on the bottom ¼” of pots and bottoms must be wiped clean. 

• NO GLAZE ON THE BOTTOM OF POTS, INCLUDING INSIDE FOOT RINGS. Work with glaze on the bottom will be placed on the “Glaze Rejects” shelf. Check this shelf periodically as work left too long will be discarded.

• Drips happen, but they can be prevented! Avoid them by making sure glaze isn't too thick, especially on the lower half. 

• If your pot drips or sticks to a kiln shelf, the damage will be assessed and a fee may be charged to grind or replace the damaged shelf.

• If your pot has a drip you would like ground off, we may be able to do it for a fee, but it is not a service that will always be available.

• Re-firing pots is not free. Pay for any pots that need to be refired before they go in the kin for a second time.

• You may, occasionally, place a “cookie” under your work for the shelf’s protection. This is not an acceptable method to handle poor glazing as it creates additional effort for the kiln loader, but certain work may require it. It is your responsibility to place a cookie under work that needs one. Work should be placed on the shelf the way it should go in the kiln. 

• Do not move work that is not your own. 

• Be respectful and courteous to others- if you accidentally damage someone else’s work, leave a note.

• Load common shelves (bisque & glaze) from the rear forward so that you don’t block the entire shelf. If these shelves are full, place your work on your own shelf until the next firing has been loaded and room has been freed up on the common shelves. 

• Place glazed pieces on the shelves marked with the correct height. If the shelf is full for the height of your piece, place it on a shelf that is unmarked, NOT on a shelf labeled for a different height. Refer to the red tape on the side of each shelf.

BLOCKHOUSE’S RESPONSIBILITIES & LIABILITIES

• Blockhouse is a shared studio. We do our best to safely handle and fire all student and member work. That being said, we are not liable for damage to pottery that occurs while sitting on shelves or loading/unloading kilns. 

• Blockhouse is not responsible for incidents of failure in the kiln or during loading. Pottery is risky- there always exists a chance of something happening that could result in work being ruined, either by a kiln malfunction, human error or weakness in the work itself. While we feel bad if something does get ruined, we will not compensate the maker in any way. 

• No work is guaranteed to be fired on any given day. We do our best to fairly load kilns when not everything will fit. Priority will not be given to anyone selling work over someone who is not. 

• Everyone uses the studio and equipment at their own risk. Blockhouse is not liable for injury

ETIQUETTE

• The main goal of Blockhouse is to provide a sanctuary for people to be, to create and to feel safe and comfortable. Be respectful of others trying to work.  

• To be a member, you must be able to work independently. It is ok to ask others simple questions (such as “Do you know where I could find x”), but if you need more help than simple answers can provide, save it for a class or schedule a private lesson.

• Refrain from prolonged cell phone conversations in the studio.

• No smoking on the premises or near open windows or doors.

• Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. This includes intoxication, harassment of any kind, discrimination and disrespecting others.

• Blockhouse reserves the right to deny or terminate a membership, based on inexperience or inability to adhere to studio and member policies.

Policies may be updated at any time. Failure to observe studio policies may result in termination of your membership, without refund. The studio’s success relies on everyone doing their part. Thank You!!