Student FAQ

Course Information

Where are you located?
 The studio is located at 201 West 6th ave. It is at the corner of 6th Ave & Columbia St. There is street parking, but it is often busy so please give yourself some time to find a spot (please do not park in the lot behind the studio, you may be towed). If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us.

Are we allowed to come to the Studio when sick?
 Please stay home if you have any symptoms of illness within the last 5 days, or until you’ve been cleared by your doctor.

When can we arrive?
 You are welcome to arrive 30 minutes prior to the class start time to get settled. Arrival times for Courses are as follows:

  1. 10-1030am
  2. 11-130am
  3. 2-230pm
  4. 230-3pm
  5. 6-630pm
    1. The class starts at the time listed on Mindbody at which the door will be locked. Please arrange your schedule to arrive before the Class start time to get set up.

Do we need to purchase Tools & Clay?
 We will have set you up in our website via the email you used to purchase your class. If you have not created an account already, please use the same email to create your account. You may create an account here.

How much is clay?
 Clay may be purchased here. A bag of clay will last you for 1-2 classes depending on how you use or recycle (cut in half and re-use.)

Will we need Tools for the Course?
 Yes! You’re welcome to purchase tools elsewhere, but we highly recommend the sets we sell. Tools may be purchased here.

Do I need to purchase the Tools & Clay before the class?
 You may! It’s not necessary, but makes the first class smoother if you have time to do it. All good though, we’ll get you sorted the first day :)

Can I use a gift card?
 Yes! Enter the gift card at check out. Please note the gift cards are only available for use on the website www.communityclay.ca towards product, clay, tools, workshops & courses. The gift cards do not work on Mindbody, ie Membership or Glaze Workshops.

Can I register someone else for the Course?
 If you registered someone else for this Course please have them create an account at https://www.communityclay.ca/account/register and then email us to let us know their name and email. We will get your loved one set up with the necessary permissions to acquire tools & clay.

Can I store my things at the Studio?
 Each student is sharing half a shelf with another student. Please keep your clay, tools and wareboards on your shelf for the class.

Does clay stain your clothes?
 It depends, any clay with iron in it may stain delicate fabrics. The manufactured white throwing body will not stain, and the Studio recycled clay may leave discoloration on clothes. We recommend bringing an apron or towel, or wearing clothes and footwear that is not precious. Clay will come out of your clothes in the wash.

What will we learn in the Course?
 The Course’s focus is on learning and developing an efficient and thoughtful practice. We recommend that you focus on developing the fundamentals of throwing: once you understand how to work with the clay you won’t need any instruction on how to make things, as it will come naturally. Our recommendation is to work on cylinders for the first course or two (8-16 weeks) if your goal is to develop your practice, as this helps to really understand the basic skills of throwing.

Can I attend Drop In’s during my Course?
 Yes! Drop In’s are $25+tx and may be booked after your second class.
Click here for step by step instructions on how to set up your account.
Click here for Booking & Account Management info.

Can I attend Drop In’s after my Course?
 You will need to have taken 8 weeks of Courses to obtain a Membership, we recommend emailing in a couple weeks before your Course ends to coordinate Membership. You may find more Membership info here.

Are there makeups for Classes?
 If you are sick during your course, you may remove yourself from registration on the MindBody App. Please use this link. To be eligible for a Make Up Class you must mark yourself away at least 24 hours PRIOR to the missed class. Make Up’s are subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Make ups need to be completed during you Course cycle. Please refer to your welcome email to see if your Course is eligible for a Make Up.

How much work may I make during my Course?
 As much as you want! We recommend to only keep 3-4 pieces from your first course as the learning curve is quick, very soon you’ll outgrow the pieces you keep. If you don’t keep alot, you will have more clay to re-use!

What guarantees does the Studio offer on work?
 We promise to do *our best* to get your items through the kiln safely, however sometimes things are outside of our control. Items may crack during the firing due to events during throwing or trimming. The studio does not guarantee that you will complete any work by attending a Course, Workshop, or Drop In, but we do try our best to ensure you have everything you need to be successful. Your Instructor will go over this all in detail with you in class. Please note that as soon as you enroll in a class we consider you an artist! We will teach you all the basics of creating pottery and you will be responsible for covering and managing the dryness of your items, and keeping track of your pieces through the firings and collecting your work. We recommend reading emails thoroughly to stay on top of deadlines, and ask your Instructor lots of questions!

What happens if my Instructor is sick?
 We try our best to cover classes, in the event a substitute is not available your class will be rescheduled based on the majority of the students availability. If this doesn’t work for you we will try our best to help you make up the class, and if it doesn’t work out will figure something out that works for both of us :)

What is your policy on inclusivity and safe space?
 Any person(s) who does not treat other person(s) with kindness and respect will be asked to leave the premises. Discrimination, hate speech, disrespectful behaviour is not permitted, no exceptions. You will not be reimbursed for any purchases in the event that you are asked to leave the studio. We also ask that all Students and Members be aware that Community Clay is a small community of Artists, run by Artists. We’re doing our best :)

What is your refund policy?
If you purchase a Course and can no longer attend, please email us at least 10 business days prior to the start date. If we fill your spot, we will refund you less a $50 fee, or transfer your registration to another course in the future at no charge. You are also welcome to transfer the Course to a friend or loved one. Within 10 days or once the course has started we unfortunately can not offer a refund.

Can I bring my dinner to the Studio?
 Yes! You are also welcome to use our microwave. Please take any food or beverage containers or waste with you, as we don’t want furry friends in the Studio!

Firing

Individual updates are not provided. If you have not received an email, your items are still in the queue or may have been rejected. After checking the reject shelf checklist you are welcome to ask me questions during the arrival time Tuesday's & Thursday's 6-620ish pm.

Will you let us know when our items are bisque-fired?
 Yes! I will send you an email when your work is bisqued. Please ensure you are around the week after the firing to collect your things. While people are generally respectful it’s a good idea to collect your items as soon as they are fired to avoid any damage or loss of work. You may also pay for our Work Collection Service, $15+tx. We need photos and the quantity of the items, and we will pack them up for you and hold them until you’re ready to pick up.

When do the items get fired?
 Generally items are fired in week 7 of the Course, or the week after a Shortie (4 week) Course. Please ensure you are around the week of firing to collect your work, or you may pay for work collection. Please note that you may not send non-members/students to collect your things. View the pick up schedule here.

How often are items fired?
Items are fired weekly depending on kiln capacity. Once loaded, firing, cooling, and unloading typically take about 3 days.

Is Glazing included?
 Glazing Workshops are not included in the course fee and may be booked on Mindbody. There are a maximum of 6 students in a Glazing Workshop to ensure you get one on one support in learning how to Glaze. Please ensure you have collected your bisque items a minimum 24 hours BEFORE the Glaze Workshop to ensure you are ready to Glaze! Things happen, items may not get fired or pieces go missing, or sometimes are just hard to see on the shelf! There is no time allocated during the Glazing Workshop for work collection. Please review this page prior to booking.

Will you let us know when the items are Glaze Fired?
 In the Glazing Workshop, your Instructor will give you an estimate as to when your items will come out of the kiln, which is generally 3-5 days after you glaze. You will need to collect your items within 7 days of them coming out of the kiln, so we recommend only booking the Glaze Workshop when you know you are around to collect your pieces.When may I check on my pieces?
You may visit during pickup hours to view completed items. 
https://www.communityclay.ca/pages/student-member-pick-up

Why can’t I find my pieces I placed on the firing shelf?
If you have not received a firing email and your items are no longer on the shelf, they are likely in the kiln. Once the kiln is fired, cooled, and unloaded, you will receive an email when your items are ready for pickup.

Why hasn’t my piece been fired yet?
Larger or taller pieces may take longer to fire as they often require specific kiln space. As long as your items are not rejected, they remain in the firing queue.

What do I do if my items are rejected?
Review the firing checklist on the bisque or glaze shelves. If there is no note and the issue is unclear, you may have placed your items on the reject shelf in error. Address any concerns and return them to the appropriate shelf. Please read the signs.

What if something happens to my work?
Ceramics are unpredictable. Cracking, warping, or breakage may occur. The studio does not guarantee outcomes.

Communication

Will I receive reminders?
Important updates are sent by email. Members are responsible for monitoring their inbox and spam folder.

What is the best way to reach out if I have general questions?
Please review the Studio Protocol, Member FAQ, and any recent emails, as most questions are answered there.

If you are unable to find your answer, you’re welcome to ask in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00–6:20 pm. Outside of that time, I will be teaching or completing tasks that require my full attention.

Thank you for helping keep communication efficient so I may focus on running the studio.

Before emailing, please check:

  • Studio Protocol
  • Member FAQ
  • Reject shelf
  • Your spam folder
  • Pickup schedule

Most questions are answered in these resources.

Anything else I should know?
 Gabrielle, our owner, does not take a profit from the Studio in order to try and keep creative spaces as accessible as possible. This means that we need you to do your part in reading emails and resources to cut down on the admin hours so she can focus on making the studio run! If you’re ever lost you’re welcome to send an email and Gabrielle will let you know where to find the information you need.
The studio is very spacious and in the most expensive neighbourhood in the city, which means we have a lot of overhead so we need your help minimizing costs. The good thing is, she doesn’t believe in charging for things you don’t use! Consider it a “choose your own adventure pottery experience!”

By enrolling in a Course, you agree to our terms of service and take on responsibility of your work, and stay up to date on emails to ensure your best success in your learning experience! We are so excited to be a part of your journey, and can't wait to see how your practice develops. Tag us on ig so we can see your journey!!!