Studio Rules & Guidelines

• All workspaces are shared. Please do not touch, move, or otherwise handle other students' work.

• Please do not use equipment unless you have been shown how to use it.

• Please ensure any tools you have used are cleaned and put back where they belong. Please do not take or "borrow" any tools from the studio.

• Please make sure that you clean your workspace before the end of your session and leave it in the same state that you would like to find it. Always clean all surfaces with a damp sponge/cloth and wipe dry with the cloths provided.

• When cleaning the wheels please ensure that they are switched off.

• Please be careful when eating and drinking around the work areas, and bear in mind that greasy/oily fingers and hand lotions can affect clays and glazes.

• Please do not remove any other materials, books, or equipment from the studio without prior permission.

• TCS will provide standard tools, materials and equipment, as well as specific clay and glazes, as part of the monthly fee. We cannot provide every type of materials and tools available in ceramics. If there is something we do not provide but you would like to use please ask your tutor before using it at the studio to see if it is compatible with our facilities and processes.

• The amount, quality, and progress of the items you make while in studio is up to you and the speed and precision you work at. Most items are unlikely to be completed within a single session, but can be completed within two sessions.

• TCS does not allow bringing items that have been created outside the studio (e.g. at home or at another workshop) to class sessions.

• We do not allow the removal of greenware (unfired clay) from the studio, either as raw ingredient or work still in progress.

• When storing your work, please always attach a name tag to the outside of the drying bag, in order to positively identify your work.

• Please be very careful when moving your work or looking for your project. Do not pick up work that doesn’t belong to you.

• Any work that needs to remain in plastic or leather hard state must be wrapped up in a drying bag. Wrapped bags contain fragile student work.

• Any work that can be allowed to dry fully for kiln firing must be lightly covered by plastic, not wrapped, to ensure a slow and even drying process to prevent cracks and warps, but this is not guaranteed.

• Any work that has not been fired (greenware) is extremely delicate and fragile. Never handle such items by their rims or other thin sections, always support the full piece by its base, and do not handle such pieces roughly or apply pressure to them.

• Please be aware that if you decide not to return after a block, or choose to take a block out, we will only be able store your work for 2 months.

• If any glazes are running low please alert the tutor. We may have more in storage or else we will do our best to replenish them as soon as possible depending on supplier stock.

• Check with your tutor before double-dipping or combining glazes, and if you’re unsure about the number of coats to apply.

• Ensure your glaze has dried completely after each coat before applying the next layer. Failure to so so may result in glaze "shivering", i.e peeling off your item before or during firing. If you're unsure, please ask your studio tutor for advice and best glaze application practices.

• Clean paint brushes thoroughly between different glazes to avoid contamination and pollution of colours. Please check the cleaning guide posted above the studio sink for instructions on how to clean brushes correctly.

• Please make sure that the bottom/standing base of your work is well wiped and free from any glaze to protect the kiln shelves during firing.

• Please choose your glazes and applications carefully, we cannot be held responsible for unsatisfactory end results or colour choices.

• If your work is using more than a reasonable amount of glaze, i.e. 1/3 of a full bottle there may be an additional charge levied to replace that glaze for use by other students.

• TCS does not offer a glazing service, i.e. glaze work on behalf of students, unless agreed to at an additional fee. If you are leaving your class membership and you have unfinished pieces we urge you to try and finish them up yourself.

• Studio glazes are for items made in studio only, glaze may not be removed from the studio to be used elsewhere, nor may outside items be brought in and studio glazes used to finish those items.

• There are literally thousands of glazes on the market and it is impossible to cater to everyone’s taste and preferences for colours and finishes. We only offer a range of basic colours as part of the class fee. If there is something that you would like to use please ask your tutor before using it at the studio to see if it is possible/suitable with the facilities we provide. Any additional or specialised glazes, clays, or other materials which are not provided by the studio will be for your own account, and TCS must be consulted beforehand to advise on the suitability of the materials. We can also assist with the ordering process if requested but payment for such orders will be strictly in advance and by arrangement only.

• TCS is equipped with the highest quality equipment and the studio tutor is an experienced and trained ceramicist who will handle and fire your ceramic work. However, by the nature of ceramics, there remains a risk of technical failure and breakages which can occur for various reasons at various times before and during firing, for which we cannot be held responsible.

• TCS will do its best to fire work in a timely manner but this is dependent on many factors, including drying times, kiln space, and equipment function. 

• Firing work is at the discretion and expertise of the tutor and we will not fire work if we are not satisfied that it is ready and/suitable to be fired. We may refuse to fire work if we consider that this would be a risk to other work and/or our kilns.

• TCS uses a single-fire process at low fire temperatures. Our studio clay and glazes have been selected to be fit for this purpose. Outside clays and/or glazes may not be suitable for our studio kiln and firing process so please always check this with us first before purchasing and starting any such work.

• We will fire a single item a maximum of 2 times only, and will not be held responsible for unsatisfactory end results.

• If your work occupies more than 25% of the kiln space there may be an additional charge levied, calculated by size and weight of the piece, for firing it.

• The firing of work produced outside of the studio is not included in the monthly/session fees, all items produced at elsewhere are subject to kiln hire terms and prices.

• A pottery kiln is a specialised and expensive piece of equipment and should be respected as such. Never open or interfere with the kiln during a firing schedule, or at any other time.

Ceramics is a process that requires time and expensive resources, and we try hard to keep the costs down. We do not like to curb peoples’ creativity, but we have to be considerate of all students' experiences, and the value and access to resources they get from each session:

• • Please do not touch, move, or handle other students' work without alerting the tutor!

  • If shelf and storage space becomes limited, and you have multiple pieces in progress you may be asked to select your preferred pieces for completion, e.g. firing, glazing etc.

  • If a student is found to be "wasting" or overusing any materials there may be an additional charge levied.

  • If a student breaks, spills, drops, contaminates, or otherwise damages any of the studio resources the student will be held responsible for the full replacement cost of that item.

  • Studio resources or materials are not to be used for items made outside the studio, and items made in studio (greenware) are not allowed to be taken home or elsewhere to be finished.

We reserve the right to cancel or change the date of a block or classes where necessary or if it is impractical for a session to run. 

CANCELLATIONS BY STUDENT

All cancellations/absences must communicated to us, either in-person, via WhatsApp or message to 077 636 22000, or via email to triyaceramicstudio@gmail.com

BLOCK BOOKING CANCELLATIONS:

• Cancelling prior to the start of a monthly block booking, new or current:

  • Two weeks' or more notice - a full refund will be issued.

  • One week' notice - 80% refund (minus 20% for admin and office costs).

  • Three working days or less notice - no refund will be given.

  • Cancellation within the block - no refund will be given.

CLASS/SESSION ATTENDANCE CANCELLATIONS OR ABSENCES:

Once you have committed to a block booking we recommend that you attend the scheduled number of sessions to get the most out of the program.

• If you decide not to continue to attend or to complete the sessions after the block booking has started no refund will be issued on your £30 booking fee.

• Class cancellations or planned absences must be communicated to us in advance, no-shows will not be refunded or transferred. If you need to miss a session, please let us know promptly via phone message or WhatsApp or by email: triyaceramicstudio@gmail.com or speak to a member of staff in the studio and we will do our best to organise a make-up session and provide available dates, but we cannot guarantee availability, and we are unable to carry sessions over from one block to the next indefinitely.

• If you decide to cancel or otherwise not continue for the next monthly block please let us know by the 3rd week of the current monthly block in order for us to make that space available to our waiting list.

 CANCELLATION BY STUDIO

• TCS reserve the right to cancel or make changes to any blocks, classes or sessions in order to provide a high-quality service or where it is necessary for reasons beyond our control.

• TCS reserves the right to vary opening times or to close the studio for specific periods.

• Occasionally scheduled teaching may be cancelled at short notice because of factors outside our control, such as weather, illness, personal circumstances, equipment failure, issues with the premises, or unscheduled maintenance.

• If a pottery class, session, or other event is cancelled by TCS you will be offered an alternative date, or refund, or class booking credit.

• Transfers between Classes are subject to availability and there is no guarantee that this will be possible, but we will try our best to accommodate you.

• TCS will not be liable for any losses or expenses arising from alterations to the block or class schedule, or cancellations.

• Our pottery classes are £100 per month, per person, for 4 class sessions.

(That works out to a cost of only £10 per hour to develop or practice a new hobby!)

• If a month has 5 weeks, the fee is adjusted to £125 for that month, or kept at £100 and adjusted to 4 classes within the 5 week period only if members choose to take a one week break.

• Learners can join mid-month (if there's availability) and pay a pro-rated fee for the number of sessions left in that month, e.g. 3 sessions - £75, 2 sessions - £50, 1 session - £30, provided they will renew the following month.

• We require a £30 booking fee in order to confirm and secure your space in our classes. This fee is non-refundable and will form part of your monthly booking fee.

• The remainder of the monthly booking fee must be paid in full by the first lesson.

• Payment can be completed using our card facility in the studio, or using a bank payment link sent via WhatsApp or email; please don't bring cash to the studio.

• Class duration is 2.5 hours and this includes everything: all clay, glazes, the use of studio tools and equipment, and firing of all pieces (with some exceptions depending on size).

• Drop-in / Taster sessions can be accommodated by prior confirmed arrangement at £30 per person, per 2.5 hour session.

• Private sessions can be arranged at £50 per person, per 2.5 hour session.

• Payment for other uses, events, materials, tools, or equipment at TCS is by agreement.

• Once your work has been fired we request that you collect your finished work as soon as possible to help keep our storage area clear and available to everyone's use.

• If students are unable to return to the studio to collect their fired pieces, we may be able to post them to you. Please note that we do not offer a glazing service, and we will not post unfired items due to their incredibly fragile nature.

• We charge a standard administration rate of £10 per item to post out any work, which will cover packaging and the time to prepare the pieces. The student will also be required to cover the full cost of postage from TCS to their chosen address. We will be able to give you an estimation of cost once the pieces have been packaged and the parcel has been weighed.

• We will use a reliable parcel service to ship pieces and follow their postage prices.

• TCS will package each piece as carefully as possible, but we cannot be held responsible for any damage caused during shipping.

• If fired or finished ceramic work is not collected within 2 months of the end of the session we will take ownership of it and will regrettably have to dispose of it. All unfired items that have been abandoned will be recycled by the studio.

If you wish to organise postage of pieces following a workshop please contact us at: triyaceramicstudio@gmail.com 

We take our students' safety very seriously and we take a diligent approach to health and safety for the sake of all staff, students, equipment, and premises.

• Students use the studio at their own risk and must be aware of the inherent hazards of a working pottery studio environment. These risks include the use of sharp tools, exposure to chemicals, and high temperatures amongst other things.

• We suggest that you wear appropriate old casual clothing and comfortable, flat shoes with non-slip soles and covered toes. Also be aware that your clothes may get dirty during the course of a class with a range of things like wet clay smears, dust prints, glaze spills, and water. Not to worry though, few things will cause permanent staining, and a quick wash will be all that's needed.

• The studio has aprons that are reserved for wheel work. If you want to protect your clothes at other times during non-wheel work then please bring your own apron, towel, or an old shirt.

• Long hair must be tied back for wheel work and loose clothing avoided.

• Jewellery, electronics, and other valuables are best left at home. Please note that we are not liable for any damage that occurs to personal items.

• All of our students will receive any applicable briefings on health and safety before using specific tools or equipment.

• Please avoid going too near the kiln as it may be very hot.

• These premises have a no-smoking policy.

• The studio contains a First Aid Kit, as well as a separate Burn Kit for use in any emergencies. Please speak to a member of staff if you need use either.

• Fire exits are clearly marked, are there in the interests of safety and attendees must not interfere with these exits for any reason. In the event of a fire, everyone is asked to make their way to the nearest available exit and follow all instructions and signage.

• The meeting point in the event of an evacuation from the studio is in the primary car park at the front of the main building.

• Attendees agree to abide by our Health & Safety guidelines and as instructed by tutors. Repeated failure to do so will result in termination of the students’ participation in the class.

• We recycle all our clay, please make sure all unused, but worked clay is placed on the wedging table by the end of the class.

• Please do not dispose of clay or glazes down the sink drain, use the water only for rinsing brushes, sponges, and cloths.

PUBLIC LIABILITY

TCS accepts no liability for any type of injury suffered by anyone, or damage to any property at the venue/site (including the car-parking area), except in so far as such loss, damage or injury is by law incapable of exclusion. Personal belongings are brought onto the site / premises at your own risk and TCS does not accept liability for any loss or damage whatsoever to such items.

TCS prides itself on being a welcoming, relaxing, and inclusive environment. However we cannot be held responsible for the behavior, actions, or expressed opinions of other students. Discriminatory, bullying, threatening, intimidating, coercive, anti-social or any other unacceptable behaviours will not be tolerated and anyone found in breach of this will be banned from the studio and future classes.

PRODUCT LIABILITY

Students at TCS may choose to make handmade work available to purchase. TCS accepts no liability relating to purchases of artwork produced by any students, past or current.