Welcome to The Old Bank Pottery Studio!

The following handbook and policies are for the safety of you, our staff, and the working artists in the studio. The policies also help to create a positive working atmosphere for our community.

To participate in studio activities, you must sign the studio use waiver and will be held accountable for practicing the policies set forth in this booklet.

Those not adhering to the policies may be asked to leave the studio for the day or permanently without refund. Please read carefully and see our website for the most up-to-date version of this handbook. 

STUDIO HOURS: 

• 10:00-18:00 Tuesday 
• 11:00-18:00 Wednesday
• 10:00-18:00 Thursday
• 10:00-18:00 Friday
• 11:00-18:00 Saturday (limited access, see notes below)

From time to time, studio hours may change and members may be unable to access the studio due to private events or may have limited access due to classes or workshops scheduled during normal business hours. While classes are in session on weekends, Open Access Members are limited to use of the two members wheels and glaze room table area.

Studio Membership Requirements

Open access members must be able to work independently without aid and maintain clean and safe studio practices.  Pottery club members must maintain clean and safe studio practices.  All members must adhere to the guidelines set below. 
 

Studio Access & Liability 

Open Access Members can access the studio during open hours listed above up to 30 hours per month. Additional hours may be available at staff discretion @ £15/hour. 

Studio hours may change from time to time. Open Access Members may be allowed to use the two members wheels and the glaze room hand-building area during class times as long as they don't interrupt the class being taught. Please clean up after yourselves. 

Open access members receive one 12.5 kg bag of clay free per month and pottery club members receive 6.25 kg of clay free each month. Additional clay must be purchased from the studio to guarantee safety in firing unless permission is given by studio manager. All non-studio clay reclaim must be removed by the user. Third-party clays should not be mixed with studio clays under any circumstances. Clay allowances are subject to change. Members will be notified in advance.

Firing Costs are charged as follows: £0.40 per 100g for bisque (minimum charge £1), and £0.80 per 100g for glaze firing (minimum charge £2.50). All weights are taken at greenware stage, bone dry. For example a 400 g greenware mug would cost £1.60 for a bisque firing and £3.20 for the glaze firing. Open Access Members are allowed 4 kg of bisque and glaze firing per month at no additional cost. Pottery Club Members are allowed 2 kg of bisque and 2 kg glaze firing per month at no additional cost. These charges are subject to change. Members will be notified in advance.

Studio members assume all responsibility for damages and/or loss incurred during, or as a direct result of, their use of the space. 

Only registered students and active studio members may use the studio and equipment. Members are not permitted to host their own classes or private lessons in the studio.

Safety guidelines are in place to protect all members, staff, and visitors. See ‘Health & Safety’ section for more information. The Old Bank Pottery is not responsible for any accidents or incidents resulting from improper and/or unsafe use of the studio. 

The Old Bank Pottery is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misplaced items. Please be sure you check all areas of the studio where you may have worked before leaving for the day. All work must be kept on your shelf until it is ready to move to bisque firing.  Work that is left elsewhere will be removed and destroyed.  Work that is on the bisque firing shelf that is not signed will be removed and destroyed.  

The Old Bank Pottery, and any staff operating on their behalf, are not responsible for watching children, pets, or guests, or for accidents of any kind. Children under the age of 7 may not use the potter’s wheels. Children 7-13 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.  

The Old Bank Pottery will dispose of your work, tools and equipment if it is not taken away at the time of your membership or classes expiration date for any reason. The Old Bank Pottery  is not responsible for promises made by employees or other members to safeguard these items if your membership has lapsed. It is your sole responsibility to make sure your space is cleaned out so that The Old Bank Pottery can offer the space to the next round of students/members.

Our Community Studio Atmosphere  

Any disrespect, harm, or harassment to The Old Bank Pottery staff, instructors, employees, interns, studio members, students, etc. is not acceptable or tolerated. The Old Bank Pottery has the right to refuse access to any person(s) at any time. 

Please respect all artists and artwork in the studio and the gallery. Do not disrupt artists while they are working, use their tools, or touch their work/possessions without express permission. 

Please be respectful of instructors and studio staff that may be working on personal projects during their free time. If you have questions or need assistance during this time, please approach the on-duty staff member.

Please be courteous and accommodating of any classes taking place in the studio. If a staff member asks you to clean up your work area to prepare for a class, please do so quickly and efficiently. Do not disturb instructors or students and try to keep noise to a minimum. Students enrolled in classes shall have the instructor’s full attention. 

No shouting or yelling in the studio. 

No smoking of any kind in the studio or within 10 yards of premises. 

Please practice mobile phone courtesy when in the studio and take any phone conversations outside. 

The studio promotes the sharing of best practices and an overall community appreciation of ceramic work. Please be respectful of intellectual property and do not photograph or otherwise appropriate any work, procedures, methods, or likewise of any studio members, staff, or guests. 

If you have special needs please communicate this clearly to staff ahead of time. A conversation along with a written note and/or email will assist in the working relationship of the studio. 

In the case that human error or a ceramic error happens, please be considerate to staff and fellow artists. The Old Bank Pottery staff work very hard to provide the most professional studio atmosphere possible. Staff are willing to discuss these situations in a professional manner. Hostile, accusatory communication is not acceptable.

In the event that staff, members, and/or students break or damage any personal property, including ceramic work, they must leave a note for the owner and we will do our best to notify you. 

Please do not create a negative environment for other people in the space. Staff have the right to ask any person to leave if they are negatively affecting the studio environment and/or safety. 

General Cleaning Guidelines 

This is a wet cleaning studio and all members and students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves in accordance with the following guidelines. 

Common areas such as the glaze station, wedging tables, sink area, etc. must be wiped down and cleaned with fresh water immediately after use.  Do not let clay dry out on surfaces-- always clean up your wedging or work area right away with water and a sponge. 

Beware and limit any studio actions that create dust, as liberation of airborne particles is hazardous to all of our health. Sweeping of trimmings is allowed but must be done slowly and carefully with the large squeegee to avoid kicking up dust. 

Do not let large amounts of water sit on table tops and other wood surfaces as it will warp the wood. 

When finished using a wheel, ensure that it has been switched off before following cleaning instructions. 

Pleae disponse of throwing water in the reclaim bins. Check your throwing bowls for any tools before dumping it into the reclaim bins. 

Clay clogs drains.  Remove as much clay as possible from hands and tools using the hand and tool wash buckets, respectively, before moving to the kitchen sink area for a final rinse.  DO NOT wash your hands in the bathroom sink.  There is ABSOLUTELY no clay or glaze material to be washed in the bathroom sink.

It is your responsibiilty to put away all tools berfore you depart the studio.  Please do not leave any tools or steel water pans in the sink.  

Glaze tools such as whisks, spatulas, and tongs, must be thoroughly cleaned between glazes and after use. Contamination between glaze buckets can ruin an entire batch of glaze and disrupt use for other artists in the studio. If a glaze batch is ruined as a result of improper use, artists may be charged for the materials and the time it takes to replace it. 

Use the studio clay sink in the kitchen area for filling buckets, cleaning, and anything clay/glaze-related. 

Final cleaning is to be done using fresh water and a clean sponge. Using dirty sponges can lead to the spreading of thinner layers of clay-water which evaporate and leave dust. 

Please dispose of trash and recycling in the appropriate cans. 

Follow all posted signage. If you are unsure of any clean-up procedures, please ask a member of staff. 

A fee may be charged to cover any mess left behind, damage, or loss resulting from improper studio use. 

Tools, Shelves & Storage 

Members and students are responsible for providing their own tools if they require something the studio doesn’t have. All provided equipment and community tools are shared among the studio and should be looked after, cleaned, and returned after use. 

Members are assigned one 40 x 60 cm shelf.  All work and personal studio items are to be stored on your shelf space, including any greenware not yet ready for the bisque shelves. Nothing is to be stored in general studio areas or on top shelves. 

Handling of Clay and Glaze Materials 

Do not eat or drink in the glaze area. 

All outside materials including glazes, etc must be approved by studio staff for proper use and storage. Clay must be purchased at the studio to ensure safe reclaim and firing practices.

Dry glaze materials are off-limits to members and students without prior arrangement or unless your instructor is present, and you are working on a class project. 

When authorized and working with dry materials a respirator with a P100 filter is required. 

When working with wet glazes and stains, rubber gloves are recommended as some colorants can be absorbed through the skin. Please be sure to clean hands thoroughly before using other parts of the studio.

Paint-your-own pottery glazes and brushes are off-limits to members.

Kilns & Firing 

Never open, touch, or unload any kilns without the permission of The Old Bank Pottery management.

Firing schedules are subject to change according to the quantity of work that is ready to fire and the overall happenings of The Old Bank Pottery. 

The Old Bank Pottery staff strives to move all work through the kilns in a timely manner, but it is not our responsibility to track your individual pieces. 

Cracks and defects in greenware and glazed pieces will not be loaded into the kilns. Defective pots will be returned to your shelf with an accompanying note. 

No-name pieces without an appropriate firing slip or signature will not be fired. 

Do not store work that is visibly wet, or not ready for firing, on the bisque/glaze racks. We cannot be held responsible for damage to this work. 

Staff will throw out work not removed from the bisque, glaze, and ready racks monthly. Please watch for emails and signs announcing throw-out dates. 

Please be aware that kiln firings can have unpredictable results and, as such, we cannot guarantee the final product. Damage and/or unwanted results during the entire loading, firing, and unloading process are not the responsibility of the studio. 

If it is determined that a member’s piece is the cause of any damage to the kilns, shelves, or any other kiln furniture, that member may be charged for the replacement of the items and/or the time it takes to clean them.

Members are required to use studio glazes unless express permission is given to use external glazes.  It is the responsibility of the member using the external glaze to ensure that it can be safely fired at the same temperature as our standard studio glazes. If external glazes cause damage to other pieces in the firing or to the kiln itself, you may be charged a fee for damage and/or cleaning. 

Membership & Firing Costs 

All memberships and access are provided on a trial basis. The Old Bank Pottery staff may ask an artist not performing at the applied level of expectation to enroll in-studio classes if needed. 

Membership is charged monthly and a minimum three month commitment is required.

Firing fees are calculated by volume or weight and are subject to change. 

Payment will be considered late at noon the day after the listed due date. A 5% late fee will be added to any invoice not paid after this time. 

Memberships & multi-month bundles are non-refundable. 

Notice of non-renewal for monthly memberships requires 30 days' notice. Notice is to be delivered by email or in writing. Monthly membership will otherwise automatically renew on the 1st of the month. 

In the event of membership cancellation, shelves are to be fully cleaned down, and belongings collected before closing on the last day of membership. If unable to clear off shelves in time, please contact a staff member who can assist. Shelf cleaning fee and day rates may apply to any days that belongings remain in the studio. 

Members who do not adhere to the guidelines set out in the handbook may, at any time, be asked to leave or have their membership discontinued, without a refund. 

Health and Safety Rules 

Stay out of Staff Only areas of the studio, such as the kiln room.

Do not touch kilns.

Do not eat or drink in the studio or the glaze room.

Do not run in the studio. 

Silica dust is extremely dangerous. All measures possible should be taken to minimize the creation of excess clay dust throughout the studio. Additional information can be found here: https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/silica-dust/ and here: https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/silica-dust/silicosis/

Spills must be cleaned up immediately and staff must be informed of any accidents that could be unsafe.

When applying stain and sponging off it is wise to wear rubber gloves. Some stains may be absorbed through the skin and the amount of colorant in stains is a much higher percentage than glaze. Copper, manganese dioxide, and other colorants may be absorbed through the skin with prolonged exposure. 

Glaze can be an eye irritant. Wear goggles/protective glasses. If you get a glaze in your eyes, find a member of staff or first aid kit for saline rinse. A first aid kit is available behind the front desk. 

Proper attire, including closed-toed shoes, eye protection (reading glasses are not acceptable), dust masks, and rubber/work gloves must be worn when working on certain projects or when working in certain areas of the studio. The studio is not responsible for supplying these items. 

No smoking of any kind in the studio or within 20 feet of premises. 

Non-Studio Glazes / Purchased Commercial Glaze: Must be approved by studio staff prior to using and taken home each day. 

Use of Glaze Materials / Mixing of Stains / Mixing of Glaze: Must be approved/done by studio staff. 

Sexual Harrassment

The Old Bank Pottery adheres to all applicable federal, state and local anti-discrimination and harassment laws and regulations. The Old Bank Pottery staff, contractors, vendors, visitors, members and the like are entitled to work or visit an environment free from sexual harassment and a hostile or offensive environment. We recognize sexual harassment as unlawful discrimination, just as conduct that belittles or demeans any individual on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual preference, age, disability, or other similar characteristics or circumstances. 
 

Accommodations

The Old Bank Pottery is committed fully to complying with UK law. Reasonable accommodation is available to any studio student, member and/or resident artist with a disability when the disability affects the ability to participate in a class or to create work in the studio.

If you are currently disabled or become disabled, please contact The Old Bank Pottery Staff to assist you with evaluating reasonable accommodations that may enable you to participate fully in the studio. Staff may require a physician’s note covering any restrictions to ensure that proposed reasonable accommodations meet your needs. 
 

Compliance with laws

Members/students shall, at their sole cost and expense, comply with all of the requirements of all municipal, state and federal authorities hereafter adopted pertaining to the use of said premises, and shall faithfully observe in said use all municipal ordinances and state and federal statutes now in force or which shall hereinafter be in force.

The judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, or the admission of the member/student in any action or proceeding against the member/student, whether The Old Bank Pottery is a party thereto or not, that the member/student has violated any such order or statute in said use, shall be conclusive of that fact as between the ceramic studio and the member/student. If a member/student fails to comply with the provisions of this paragraph, the member/student shall, at the option of The Old Bank Pottery, be asked to terminate classes, remove their belongings, and vacate the premises. 
 

Insurance Liability

The Old Bank Pottery and The Old Bank Pottery staff shall not be liable at any time for any loss, damage, or injury to the property or person of any whomsoever at any time occasioned by or arising out of any act or omission of the member/student or the occupancy or use of the premises, or directly or indirectly for any state or condition of the premises unless such liability is the result of any act or omission on the part of The Old Bank Pottery.

In the event that The Old Bank Pottery is named as a party to any litigation as a result of the sole act of the member/student or the sole act of any person coming on the premises for the benefit of seeing the member/student, then the member/student shall provide to The Old Bank Pottery at the member/student’s expense a complete defense to the action so filed and The Old Bank Pottery in the event that the member/student does not provide such defense shall be authorized to employ attorneys of The Old Bank Pottery choice and the member/student shall be liable to The Old Bank Pottery for the costs of such legal representation. The Old Bank Pottery shall be liable and responsible for its own acts and omissions and to such extent this indemnification. 

No guarantee is offered, explicit or implied, regarding the quality or serviceability of fired work. Every precaution will be taken to ensure the best possible outcome for every firing. Use of the studio indicates you agree that you will not hold the studio, it’s volunteers, or any other person associated with the studio responsible for work that is damaged or defective in any way while in the studio at any stage of the process.
While working with clay is relatively safe, there are hazards and risks. These risks include the possibility of injuries or illness related to the use of the studio, materials, or equipment. Use of the studio indicates you agree that you have been informed of the risks and have signed the The Old Bank Pottery waiver.

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Surveillance

The studio is monitored by security cameras 24/7 to ensure the safety and well-being of all members, students, staff, visitors, and equipment. 

Please note, the policies and guidelines outlined in this handbook are subject to change. The most current version of the handbook will be available on our website at all times. Any changes to the handbook will go into effect immediately following posting. Larger updates will also be communicated via email. Thank you for helping us create a fun and positive environment in our studio space!