rules & policies
rules & policies
Thank you for helping us keep The Vessel a safe and encouraging space for everyone.
CANCELLATIONS
Multi-Week Courses: To request a cancellation and refund, you must email info@thevesselstudio.org. Refunds requested more than one week prior to the first class is fully refundable. Refunds requested within one week of the first class are 50% refundable. There will be no refunds once the course begins. Should a class not fill sufficiently, we may cancel it one week prior to the first class session.
One Time Classes: Cancellations made within 24 hours of your scheduled class are not refundable. If something comes up and you are not able to make it to your class, you can always send someone in your place.
CLEANING Members/Students are responsible for fully cleaning their work areas after each session. This includes washing and putting away all tools, buckets, and materials; cleaning the wheel entirely and the floor around it; and wiping down any handbuilding or wedging tables used, including removing all clay scraps from the floor. All shared items—such as banding wheels, scales, tools, and equipment—must be cleaned and returned to their proper locations before leaving. Studio bats may be used during open studio hours but must be completely cleaned and returned; work must be removed from bats and placed on your designated ware board, as studio bats may not be stored on member/student shelves. Members/Students must also collect all clay scraps and place them in the appropriate reclaim bucket, and the wedging table must be fully cleaned and wiped down with no clay left behind.
Consistent failure to clean up appropriately may result in loss of studio access.
DUST & SANDING Do not scrape, dry sand, sweep, shake out towels or aprons, or anything else that causes hazardous dust to disperse in the air. Wet sand, use a wet sponge, or mist materials with a spray bottle to prevent clay dust.
GLAZES Please be careful when moving glaze. If you recklessly spill a glaze, you may be responsible for the cost of replacing it. Dip glazes must be mixed before use. If a dip glaze appears to be too thick or too thin, please alert your instructor or studio staff. Instructors and students are not permitted to adjust dip glazes by adding or removing water.
OUTSIDE CLAY & GLAZES Outside clay & glazes can be used only with the approval of management (Jerod, Jordyn, or Hannah) to be certain that the materials are safe for use in our space and kilns. To receive approval of outside materials, students MUST submit a request at thevesselstudio.org/materialrequest and receive approval from management (Jerod, Jordyn, or Hannah) prior to using outside clay and glaze in the studio. Expect to provide a copy of a receipt and photos of materials upon submission.
KILN SAFETY & LIABILITY To ensure the safety of our equipment and the work of all makers in the studio, students and members are expected to follow all glazing guidelines, material usage rules, and safety procedures provided by staff. If a student or member disregards glazing guidelines, uses unapproved materials, or fails to take reasonable precautions—resulting in damage to a kiln or other studio equipment—they may be held financially responsible for the cost of repairs or replacement.
our rules & policies
UNFIREABLE WORK All unfireable work will be placed on a designated “Unfireable Work” shelf with description of changes required to be fired.
ACCIDENTS While we put policies and rules in place in an attempt to keep work safe at all costs, this is a community studio, accidents are going to happen. Any accident that is caused by the doing of The Vessel staff will always be noted in writing, either by written note or via email. If something comes back broken and there is no written note, the damage was not as a result of any known accident, but something out of our control (i.e. poor clay/glaze combo, etc.) Any questions or concerns regarding damaged or broken work can be sent to info@thevesselstudio.org.
PERSONAL PROPERTY Students will not touch, borrow, or otherwise interact with the property of other members or students. This includes picking up work on a shelf that is not your own or “borrowing” another student or member’s tools. The Vessel is not responsible for any personal property left on a student or member’s shelf or elsewhere in the studio. Everything kept at the studio is done so at the student or member’s risk.
NO SMOKING Our studio is in a no-smoking building, including the sidewalks outside of the building. If you need to smoke, please go to the designated smoking area.
CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS Please be considerate of those around you by taking up only as much space as you need to work. Please be considerate of those around you by not talking too loudly, not talking to people wearing headphones, and generally by respecting the calming/library-esque atmosphere of the studio. Please be aware of offering unsolicited advice. If someone needs help, they will ask. If you’d like to offer help, please ask first and listen if they say, “No, thank you.” Remember, people don’t always want help even if you think it might be useful. If you have a question about how to do something or how to use equipment, please ask staff, do not interrupt another member or student.
RESPECT & CONDUCT POLICY All students, members, instructors, and visitors are expected to treat one another with dignity, kindness, and respect. The Vessel maintains a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, or abusive behavior of any kind, including conduct based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other personal attribute.
We strive to create a welcoming, creative, and supportive environment for everyone. Any behavior that compromises the safety or comfort of others may result in removal from the studio and/or dismissal from membership or courses without refund.
