Community & Artistic Expression Policy

Hearth Folk Studios is a community art space that welcomes artists of different ages, backgrounds, identities, experiences, beliefs, and artistic perspectives. We want artists to have the freedom to explore ideas through their work while maintaining a studio environment in which everyone can participate safely.

 

Art Can Be Uncomfortable

Art has a long history of exploring subjects that are personal, political, controversial, explicit, provocative, or uncomfortable. Ceramic art is no exception.

Adult students and members are welcome to create work that includes mature or NSFW subject matter, including nudity, sexuality, profanity, political or religious themes, difficult life experiences, and other potentially sensitive subjects. 

This type of artwork may make others uncomfortable and conflict with their beliefs. However, on its own, artwork that contains mature subject matter does not, by itself, make that artwork inappropriate for the studio.

We do recognize that children and families also use our space. Artwork containing explicit or clearly adult content should be stored on the maker's designated shelf.

Because this is a working community studio, students and visitors may occasionally see artwork in progress or while moving through the studio that contains mature subject matter.

 

Where We Draw the Line

Freedom of artistic expression does not include using artwork to threaten, intimidate, harass, or promote hatred toward other people.

Artwork is not permitted at Hearth Folk Studios when studio staff reasonably determine that its content:

• Contains a threat of violence toward an individual or group;

• Is intended to intimidate, harass, or target another studio participant, or group of people;

• Advocates or celebrates violence against people based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity; or

• Uses symbols, imagery, or messages in a context that reasonably causes people targeted by that imagery to fear for their safety.

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Hearth Folk Studios reserves the right to determine whether artwork may be created, stored, displayed, glazed, or fired in the studio when necessary to maintain the safety of the studio community.

 

Artwork Created by Minors

Hearth Folk Studios encourages young artists to experiment, be funny, explore ideas, and develop their own artistic voices. Age-appropriate artistic expression is given considerable room.

However, Hearth Folk Studios will not fire artwork created by a minor that reasonably appears to be drug paraphernalia or is designed or intended for the consumption or use of marijuana, tobacco, nicotine, illegal drugs, or other controlled substances.

If there is uncertainty about a piece, studio staff may speak with the student and/or their parent or guardian before deciding whether the work can be fired.

 

Our Standard

Hearth Folk Studios does not promise an environment free from disagreement, challenging ideas, mature artwork, or artistic expression that someone may find uncomfortable or offensive.

We do expect an environment free from targeted harassment, credible threats, intimidation, and hate directed toward members of our community.

Artists do not have to agree with one another, but we can still occupy and create in a shared space. 

Questions about whether a particular piece falls within this policy should be brought to Hearth Folk Studios staff. Final decisions regarding what may be displayed, stored, or fired at Hearth Folk Studios remain with studio management.