CERAMICS STUDIO POLICIES 

The ceramics studio is a cooperative space, and all users must be respectful of the space and of other Patrons to make it a successful and enriching place for all.

Gaining Approval
Stew Patrons (paying members, Grinnell College students, or Grinnell High School students) need specific approval in order to use the ceramic studio independently. You can work towards independent use of the ceramics studio by attending mentored hours, classes, workshops, or any combination of the three. All of these events are listed on the online Stew calendar. Workshops and classes require you to sign-up before the event, whereas mentored hours do not. Mentored hours are offered first come, first served.

Our ceramics leadership group, made up of staff and senior volunteers, will determine when you are capable of working independently through personalized assessment or an Independent Use Quiz. There is no specific number of hours required to gain independent use approval; the time spent will depend on individual factors, such as previous experience and areas of interest within the studio. To receive an orientation to our studio or additional information on approval you may email the Arts Council at info@grinnellarts.org.

While we strive to create year-round opportunities to teach engagement with the ceramics studio, our schedule is driven by student employees and volunteers, so we cannot guarantee classes or mentored hours at all times.

Approval to use the ceramics studio independently may be revoked if a Patron misrepresents their existing skill level, misuses the space, damages equipment or other Patron’s projects, or fails to clean up after themselves.

Clay & Kiln Fee 
Our studio is built around firing at Cone 6, and we stock clay in 25 lb. blocks (typically stoneware, white stoneware, and Raku). We often have recycled clay available for purchase as well. Purchasing clay includes kiln use (partial load bisque and partial load glaze) and glaze. No outside clay is permitted without prior approval. Always mark your clay bag with your name and type of clay. You should be approved to work independently in the studio before purchasing clay.

Patrons who are not yet approved to work independently but are participating in ceramics mentored hours will have recycled clay provided as availability allows. Any projects completed during ceramics mentored hours that you wish to keep will be charged and paid for by the piece. Once approved to work independently, you will purchase clay normally.

Clay can be paid for by clicking HERE.

Kiln Firings 
Only approved staff and senior volunteers are authorized to run the kilns. Firings happen when enough work has accumulated and staff/volunteer schedules permit.

Place materials to be fired on the correct shelf (bisque or glaze) when ready. If you have special needs or deadlines, please communicate them in advance. Kilns are typically not fired until a full load is ready. Special firings will require an additional kiln fee. 

Project Storage 
Shelves around the ceramics studio are communal. Shelves are designated for use during a particular stage in the pottery process:

  • All work left on wet clay storage shelves must include your name, the date, and the initials MH if you participated in Mentored Hours. Dry erase cards and markers are provided for labeling work. Work which is incorrectly labeled, or which is dated more than a month before the current date may be recycled. Because storage space in the ceramics studio is limited, we ask that all patrons try and store their wet-clay projects on a single ware board.

  • Work left on the bone-dry storage shelves must contain your initials or maker's mark. Work should only be placed on these shelves when it is completely dry and ready for bisque firing.

  • Work on the bisque ware storage shelves is grouped by firing date. As new firings are completed the oldest work on the shelf will be removed and thrown away to make space for newly fired pieces. Work will be kept until at least one month after it was fired.

When you are approved for independent use of the ceramics studio, you are provided with a private cubby in which you may store your purchased clay, along with other personal tools and equipment. After a month of lapsed membership or lack of communication, any objects left in the cubby will become property of the Stew. This includes purchased clay.

If for any reason you are unable to update the date on your work or collect pieces in a timely manner, you may reach out to the Arts Council to discuss alternative storage arrangements.

Students: In addition to the above policy, at the end of each semester/academic year, if we do not explicitly hear from you that you will be returning, we will reclaim any clay and items left on the shelves.

Ceramics Patron Responsibilities 

  • Clean up after every use of the studio and replace tools. Leave work spaces clear for the next user.

  • Remember to allow 15-30 minutes to clean up after yourself at the end of each session.

  • Label your clay and other belongings with your name, purchase date, type of clay, and the current date, and keep them in your storage cubby (if provided).

  • Do not use other Patron’s supplies without permission.

  • Ask lots of questions!