Membership is intended to give artists the freedom and resources to develop their ceramic practice while sharing a welcoming, functional community studio.

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Respect the Studio & Each Other

Hearth Folk Studios is a shared creative space. Members are expected to be respectful of other members, students, instructors, staff, and visitors.

Do not touch, move, alter, or otherwise handle another artist's work without their permission. If someone's work is in the wrong place or needs to be moved, please ask a staff member.

Be mindful of shared workspace and equipment. Do not spread belongings or projects across more space than you reasonably need, particularly when the studio is busy.

Members are also expected to follow the Hearth Folk Studios Community & Artistic Expression Policy.

 

Member Areas & Class Times

Members are welcome to use the main studio areas and member area during available studio hours.

When a class, camp, workshop, or other scheduled program is actively using the main studio, members are asked to complete the majority of their work in the Members Studio area so that students and instructors have adequate workspace.

Members may still enter the main studio as needed to access specific materials, tools,  equipment, glazes, or other studio resources. Please be mindful of active instruction and avoid unnecessarily interrupting the class.

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Clay, Glazes & Outside Materials

Only clay purchased through Hearth Folk Studios or specifically approved by studio management may be used in the studio or fired in studio kilns.

Do not bring outside clay, glaze, underglaze, slips, stains, oxides, kiln washes, or other ceramic materials into the studio without prior approval.

Unknown materials can melt, run, release unexpected substances, damage kiln shelves, contaminate studio materials, or damage kilns. If you have a material you would like to use, ask first. We are happy to review it.

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Clay does not go down any studio sink.

Use the designated reclaim, clay-water, glaze, and waste containers.

When in doubt, ask before pouring something down a drain.

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Cleaning

Please leave your workspace and equipment ready for the next artist.

Clean your wheel, splash pans, tables, tools, bats, stools, and surrounding floor area after use. Shared tools should be cleaned and returned to their designated location when you are finished with them.

 

Kiln Firing

Studio firing schedules are based primarily on having enough work to efficiently fill a kiln.

Our general goal is to complete approximately one bisque firing and one glaze firing each week, although this is an expectation rather than a guaranteed firing schedule. Actual timing may vary depending on the amount and type of work waiting to be fired, kiln availability, maintenance, holidays, and other studio needs.

Members are welcome to include their work in regularly scheduled communal firings as part of normal membership use.

Pieces must be appropriately prepared for firing and follow all studio firing requirements, this includes Project Tags. Hearth Folk Studios may decline to fire a piece that staff reasonably believe could damage the kiln, kiln furniture, other artists' work, or studio equipment.

Please remember that ceramics are unpredictable. Hearth Folk Studios cannot guarantee firing dates or firing results. We will post expected firing times for the following weeks as soon as we are able.

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Production Pottery & Excessive Firing

Membership is designed to support an active personal ceramics practice. We want members to make things (and plenty of them!)

However, regular membership firing privileges are not intended to subsidize commercial-scale or production pottery.

If a member consistently produces substantially more work than would reasonably be expected from ordinary studio membership, Hearth Folk Studios reserves the right to require additional kiln fees, charge for kiln space, or arrange and charge for dedicated kiln firings.

Management will discuss this with the member before additional firing charges are assessed.

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Storage & Member Shelves

Keep work and materials within your designated storage areas whenever possible. Each member will have locker access and a private shelf. (Until lockers are installed, members will be given extra shelf storage space). Please remember to label all your work.

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Guests

Membership privileges apply to the member.

Friends, family members, and other guests are welcome to visit, but must fill out an information form and waiver. If they would like to work alongside you, they will need to purchase an Open Studio day pass.

 

Safety

Follow all posted studio safety rules and staff instructions.

Immediately report injuries, spills, damaged equipment, unsafe conditions, or other concerns to studio staff.

Do not use studio equipment while impaired by alcohol, cannabis, recreational drugs, or any substance or medication that prevents you from safely operating equipment.

 

When You're Unsure, Ask

Ceramics involves specialized materials and equipment, and nobody is expected to know everything.

If you aren't sure whether a material can go in a kiln, how equipment works, where something belongs, how something should be cleaned, or whether you're allowed to do something: ask before experimenting.

 

Membership Agreement

By participating as a Hearth Folk Studios member, members agree to follow these guidelines as well as current studio rules, and artistic expression policy.

Hearth Folk Studios may address violations through reminders, additional instruction, restriction of particular equipment or privileges, or, when necessary, suspension or termination of membership.

These guidelines may be updated as the studio grows and we learn what works best for our community. Members will be notified of significant changes.