Bill Hildebrand and Sam Williams Ceramics Studio Policy 
Open Daily | 8AM-8PM 
$360 Yearly | $45 Monthly 

General Rules 

·         Participants must have a ceramics studio membership and RCA membership to use the studio.  

·         Open studio sessions are available when there is no class in session; members may not attend another class for which they are not registered to work or glaze. Calendars with class times are posted in each studio or members can check online to see when classes or workshops are in session.  

·         Finished work pick up is during open studio hours only. Please do not enter classes in session to pick up your work.  

·         Members must be responsible for their own clay, tools, materials, and other items. Supplies can be stored on assigned shelves. Supplies are not allowed to be stored on the floor. Additional shelves may be available for an additional fee. RCA is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. 

·         Clay studio memberships are available for RCA members who have been approved to work in the clay studio by the Education Coordinator. Clay studio memberships must be purchased separately from RCA memberships. Members are only allowed to use clay purchased from RCA.   

o    Students enrolled in clay classes at RCA are permitted to attend open studio for the duration of their class. A clay studio membership and RCA membership must be purchased to continue to attend open studio after the conclusion of the clay class.  

·         You must sign-in to the studio log anytime you use the studio. If you are the last person in the studio at any time you must be responsible for properly closing the studio, setting alarm, and turning off lights. 

·         Smoking or eating in the studio is prohibited. All beverages must have a lid.  

·         No pets are allowed in the studio. Children may NOT accompany a parent working in the studio.   

·         Do not disturb other people’s work.  

·         No sweeping of studio floors. Inhalation of airborne clay and dust can be harmful and should be avoided.  

·         Members should do their part to keep the studio clean. This includes wiping work areas, mopping, cleaning potter’s wheels and equipment, washing brushes, cleaning glazes, washing all tools and containers, removing personal items and clay from sink, cleaning sink, and returning materials to proper storage areas. RCA staff is not responsible for the general cleaning of studio equipment.   

·         No clay will be dumped in the sink. Please discard clay in buckets under sink.  

·         All work should be stored on assigned shelves. Work left out may be removed from studio. All unclaimed work will be removed from studio on a regular basis.  

·         All studio members must be 18+.  

·         Members who choose to subscribe to the clay studio monthly can cancel their subscription at any point in time. However, a refund will not be given for pre-paid months. Similarly, refunds will not be given to members who subscribe on a yearly basis. Exceptions may be made to this rule under extenuating circumstances, only by approval of Education Director.  

·         Membership to the clay studio is on a first come first serve basis. A waitlist will be created once the studio has reached capacity.  

·         Posters, flyers, and other materials are not allowed on the studio walls. Any punctures, scrapes, or uncleaned marks on walls will be considered destruction of property. 

·         Participant(s) will be responsible for the repair and/or replacement of studio items that are damaged, misplaced, stolen, or improperly used outside of normal wear and tear from proper use.   

·         Participants are not allowed to use kilns independently. Kilns are only to be operated by members approved by Education Director.  

·         Key card access is included in the studio subscription. If you lose your key card, please notify the Deputy Director so your card access can be turned off and your card can get replaced. There is a $25 replacement key for any lost key cards. 

Making Large Quantities of Work/Using the RCA Ceramics Studio for Business Purposes  

RCA is a learning/educational facility, and its ceramics studio may not be utilized as a replacement for commercial rented studio space. It does not have the space or staffing to support individual business endeavors, either online or in retail shops/galleries. Thus, the studios, kilns, equipment, and glazes may not be used to produce large quantities of work. Members using the ceramics studios for these purposes will be restricted from this practice and/or the studio on a case-by-case basis, including limiting firing work and restricting clay purchases.  

Clay  

Clay is available for purchase through www.rockportartcenter.com or the RCA gift shop. Members are not allowed to use or fire clay purchased outside of the art center.  

Studio Materials  

Studio glazes are available for member use in house. Studio tools, equipment, molds, etc. are also available for use and must be returned in good, clean condition for use by other members. No materials, RCA equipment, glazes, underglazes, or stains may be borrowed or taken out of the studio for use. Any glazes purchased by a member that they wish to use in the studio must be tested and approved by instructors .  

Work Made Outside the Ceramics Studios  

No work made outside of RCA will be fired. Please do not bring in work made elsewhere or at home. We do not have the capacity to fire work not made during class and will only fire work made during class or open studio.  

Friends and Family 

Friends and family are welcome to tour the ceramics studio but may not attend classes, open studio, or use the facility without being enrolled in a ceramics class. This includes assisting enrolled members, glazing, wheel-throwing, hand-building, or firing work. 

Safety  

·         Please follow safety instructions provided by instructors and staff when around hot kilns and while using glaze materials and studio equipment. Do not touch hot kilns.  

·         Members should wear proper safety equipment when loading/unloading the kiln. Safety glasses, gloves, and masks are available for use. 

·         Participants are restricted from using kilns independently. Only staff, instructors, and properly trained members are allowed to load, unload, and use the kiln. 

·         Commercially prepared glazes and underglazes purchased by members must be approved by an instructor prior to submission for firing. An ingredient sheet (MSPS) should be provided.  

·         A first aid kit, eye wash station and fire extinguishers are available in case of emergency. Dial 911 and notify RCA Staff in the case of accidents or injuries.   

·         Documentation on glazes and other materials are available by request.