Portland Clay House Policies

Policies and procedures are subject to change

Studio Access & Liability

Students and members are expected to read and adhere to the policies. Not “knowing” the policy is not an acceptable excuse to break studio policies.

Kiln firings can have unpredictable results and, as such, we cannot guarantee the final product. Damage and/or unwanted results during the entire loading, firing, and unloading process are not the responsibility of the studio.

During classes/workshops, access to some equipment may be limited. Please check our posted schedule in the studio or online.

Pottery Class Students

We have an FAQ page just for pottery class students
Basic Tools, Glaze, and Clay provided
Students enrolled in multi-week classes will be provided 18”x24” shelf space to store clay and works in progress.
Students may NOT use the studio while other classes, workshops or events are in session, but otherwise they have access to the studio using a temporary door code.
Depending on the class you will be limited on how many pieces you can glaze. We encourage students to practice, practice, practice; however you will be expected to select a limited number of pieces to glaze (we do this so we can focus on process and not product, your teacher can go over final piece limits in class). After your 4 or 6 week session ends you can sign-up for drop-in open studio time to continue your practice or see if you are eligible for a membership.
- All glazed pieces need the bottom ⅛ of their pot wiped free of glaze. Failure to do so will result in the pot not being fired until it is corrected. If your session ends before the pot is fixed additional studio access will not be provided. We sometimes miss this when loading. Damage to the kiln shelves will result in a $15-$80 fee depending on how damaged the shelf is… and most likely your piece will be ruined. Wipe your bottoms!
Students will have access to the studio for 1 week after class has ended to finish up any pieces.
Students have 30 days to pick up finished pieces. Unclaimed pieces will be disposed of.
Class students will sign the bottom of their pieces with their name. You'd be surprised how similar pieces look after being fired.
Student shelves must be cleared by the end of each session. Left behind items will be disposed of.
Students must adhere to our studio clean-up procedures. Most importantly our wheel and glaze clean up procedures.

Workshops, Private Lessons, & Event Participants.

Participants will select their glaze choice and sign their piece. There may be a limit to how many pieces will be glazed. More details regarding this will be on the service page when booking.

Members Policies and Guidelines

All clay must be purchased from the studio or be approved of by the management.
We bisque fire to cone 04 (zero 4) and glaze fire to cone 6. We will provide a list of clay from area retailers that is compatible if requested.
Studio members assume all responsibility for any damages and/or loss incurred during, or as a direct result of, their use of the space.
Guest Policy: Members may be bring 1 guest to work on a project. Guest is $20, this is per project and includes glazing and firing. This is meant for a single project, not multiple projects at once. Only 1 guest per member at a time.
Members are not permitted to host their own classes or private lessons in the studio (with non-studio members) without permission from PCH staff. If you liked to host a party, lesson or event, reach out to us for planning and pricing.
Health and Safety are of utmost importance. Safety guidelines are in place to protect all members, staff, and visitors. Please read ‘Health & Safety’ section below for more information. We are not responsible for accidents or incidents resulting from improper and/or unsafe use of the studio.
Portland Clay House is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misplaced items. Please be sure you check all areas of the studio where you may have worked before leaving for the day. If you find an item please put it in lost and found. Label tools and supplies that you bring from home.
Upon ending membership, we will dispose of your work if it is not cleaned out of your cubby at the time of your membership has ended. We are not responsible for left behind items.

Studio Climate (aka, vibes)

Our community goals are in our name. “House” or home. We want members and students to feel welcome and respected. For members and students to thrive in a space that fosters growth and friendship and that is free of ANY disrespect, harm, or harassment. We, the staff at Portland Clay House expect the same kind of treatment. Portland Clay House has the right to refuse access to any person(s) at any time.

Please respect all members and students of the studio. Do not disrupt them while they are working, use their tools, or touch their work/possessions without their permission. We want to foster a collaborative inviting space, but that looks different for different people. We want introverts and extroverts to coexist peacefully.

Please be courteous and accommodating of any classes or workshops taking place in the studio. If a staff member asks you to clean up your work area to prepare for a class or workshop, please do so quickly and efficiently.

No shouting or yelling in the studio… (unless your finished glazed piece came perfectly and you spent weeks working on it and your excitement can’t be contained).

No smoking of any kind in the studio or within 10 yards of premises.

Please practice cell phone courtesy when in the studio and take any phone conversations outside.

If you have special needs for you or your work please communicate this clearly to staff ahead of time. A conversation along with a written note and/or email will assist in the working relationship of the studio.

In the case that human error or a ceramic error happens, please be considerate to staff and fellow artists. Portland Clay House staff work hard to provide the most professional studio atmosphere possible. Staff are willing to discuss these situations in a professional manner. Hostile, accusatory communication is not acceptable.

In the event that staff, members, and/or students break or damage any personal property, including ceramic work, they must leave a note for the owner.

Please do not create a negative environment for other people in the space. Staff have the right to ask any person to leave if they are negatively affecting the studio environment and/or safety.

Cleaning Guidelines

This is a wet-cleaning studio (damp sponges and mops to limit clay dust) and all members and students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves in accordance with the following guidelines.

If guidelines aren’t being followed please alert the staff or management. For everyone’s safety, continued safety and cleaning violations are subject to a forfeit of your membership or class. No refunds will be provided.

Common areas such as the glaze station, wedging tables, sink area, etc. must be wiped down and cleaned with fresh water immediately after use.

Do not let clay dry out on surfaces-- always clean up your wedging or work area right away with water and a sponge.

Do not let large amounts of water sit on table tops and other wood surfaces as it will warp the wood.

Beware and limit any studio actions that create dust, as airborne particles are hazardous to all of our health. Sweeping of trimmings is allowed but must be done slowly and carefully with the large squeegee to avoid kicking up dust.

Wheel clean-up happens at the wheel (watch the video so we are all on the same page). When finished using a wheel, ensure that it has been switched off before following posted cleaning instructions.

Wash all community tools, buckets, bats (including the rims), wareboards, etc. and put away prior to leaving. We have a pre-rinse bucket for tools. Bring fresh water back to your station to keep the sink area open.

Check your throwing buckets for any tools before dumping it into the rinse buckets. (Sharp pointy things hurt)

When cleaning glaze material, pre-rinse your glaze materials in the designated pre-rinse bucket prior to using the sinks.

Glaze tools such as whisks, spatulas, and tongs, must be thoroughly cleaned between glazes and after use. Contamination between glaze buckets can ruin an entire batch of glaze and disrupt use for other artists in the studio. If a glaze batch is ruined as a result of improper use, artists may be charged for the materials and the time it takes to replace it.

There is ABSOLUTELY no clay or glaze material to be washed in the bathroom sink. Wash any clay/glaze from your hands before entering the bathroom.

Mop after all the other cleaning protocols are followed.

Final cleaning is to be done using fresh water and a clean sponge. Using dirty sponges can lead to the spreading of thinner layers of clay-water which evaporate and leave dust.

Please dispose of trash and recycling in the appropriate cans.

Follow all posted signage. If you are unsure of any clean-up procedures, please ask a member of staff.

A fee may be charged to cover any mess left behind, damage, or loss resulting from improper studio use.

Health and Safety Rules

Do not touch the kilns. For real, they are HOT!
Do not run in the studio.
Silica dust is extremely dangerous. All measures possible should be taken to minimize the creation of excess clay dust throughout the studio. Additional information can be found here: https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/silica-dust/ and here: https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/silica-dust/silicosis/
All dry sanding is to be done outside- even outside its recommended to wear a mask.
Spills must be cleaned up immediately and staff must be informed of any accidents that could be unsafe.
Glaze can be an eye irritant. Wear goggles/protective glasses. If you get a glaze in your eyes, find a member of staff or first aid kit for saline rinse. A first aid kit is available.

Kilns & Firings

Never touch, open, or unload any kilns without permission.

Most firing costs are included in membership prices, but if your piece doesn't fit on one shelf (26" L x 13" W half-round) you will be charged our outside firing fee, which is $14 for a bisque firing and $18 for a glaze firing. We will post our Venmo code by the kiln shelves. As for pieces taller than 13" we may need to fire them on their side (for bisque) or they may sit until we can put other tall pieces with them to maximize the kiln space. We have a shelf mock-up by the kiln shelves to make sure your piece fits. We rarely (if ever) come across either scenario but I’ve been asked several times about this so we wanted to share this update. (edited)

Firing schedules are subject to change according to the quantity of work that is ready to fire and the overall happenings of the studio.

Portland Clay House strives to move all work through the kilns in a timely manner, but it is not our responsibility to track your individual pieces. Allow conservative expectations if you have a piece that has a deadline or specific date to be done (like a birthday gift or craft show). We won’t fire your materials out of order based on deadlines you have.

Cracks and defects in greenware and glazed pieces will not be loaded into the kilns. Defective pots will be placed on the bottom shelf with a note that says “Needs Attention”

All pieces MUST have a name stamped or written on the bottom. No-name pieces will not be glazed fired. This helps us protect our kilns, and ensures we can communicate with you if an issue arises with your piece.

Do not store work that is visibly wet, or not ready for firing, on the bisque/glaze racks. We cannot be held responsible for damage to this work.

Staff will throw out work not removed from the bisque, glaze, and ready racks monthly. Please watch for emails and signs announcing throw-out dates.

Please be aware that kiln firings can have unpredictable results and, as such, we cannot guarantee the final product. Damage and/or unwanted results during the entire loading, firing, and unloading process are not the responsibility of the studio.

All glazed pieces need the bottom ⅛ of their pot wiped free of glaze. Failure to do so will result in the pot not being fired until it is corrected. We sometimes miss this when loading. Damage to the kiln shelves will result in a $15-$80 fee depending on how damaged the shelf is… and most likely your piece will be ruined. Wipe your bottoms!

Legal Stuff

Portland Clay House is committed fully to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal, state, and local laws. Reasonable accommodation is available to any studio student, member and/or resident artist with a disability when the disability affects the ability to participate in a class or to create work in the studio.az

If you are currently disabled or become disabled, please contact Portland Clay House Staff to assist you with evaluating reasonable accommodations that may enable you to participate fully in the studio. Staff may require a physician’s note covering any restrictions to ensure that proposed reasonable accommodations meet your needs.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

Members/students shall, at their sole cost and expense, comply with all of the requirements of all municipal, state and federal authorities hereafter adopted pertaining to the use of said premises, and shall faithfully observe in said use all municipal ordinances and state and federal statutes now in force or which shall hereinafter be in force.

The judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, or the admission of the member/student in any action or proceeding against the member/student, whether Portland Clay House is a party thereto or not, that the member/student has violated any such order or statute in said use, shall be conclusive of that fact as between the ceramic studio and the member/student. If a member/student fails to comply with the provisions of this paragraph, the member/student shall, at the option of Portland Clay House, be asked to terminate classes, remove their belongings, and vacate the premises.

INSURANCE LIABILITY

Portland Clay House and Portland Clay House staff shall not be liable at any time for any loss, damage, or injury to the property or person of any whomsoever at any time occasioned by or arising out of any act or omission of the member/student or the occupancy or use of the premises, or directly or indirectly for any state or condition of the premises unless such liability is the result of any act or omission on the part of Portland Clay House.

In the event that Portland Clay House is named as a party to any litigation as a result of the sole act of the member/student or the sole act of any person coming on the premises for the benefit of seeing the member/student, then the member/student shall provide to Portland Clay House at the member/student’s expense a complete defense to the action so filed and Portland Clay House in the event that the member/student does not provide such defense shall be authorized to employ attorneys of Portland Clay Houses choice and the member/student shall be liable to Portland Clay House for the costs of such legal representation. Portland Clay House shall be liable and responsible for its own acts and omissions and to such extent this indemnification.

No guarantee is offered, explicit or implied, regarding the quality or serviceability of fired work. Every precaution will be taken to ensure the best possible outcome for every firing. Use of the studio indicates you agree that you will not hold the studio, it’s volunteers, or any other person associated with the studio responsible for work that is damaged or defective in any way while in the studio at any stage of the process.
While working with clay is relatively safe, there are hazards and risks. These risks include the possibility of injuries or illness related to the use of the studio, materials, or equipment. Use of the studio indicates you agree that you have been informed of the risks and have signed the Portland Clay House waiver.

This is an accessibility statement from Portland Clay House.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Portland Clay House is fully conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Fully conformant means that the content fully conforms to the accessibility standard without any exceptions.

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Portland Clay House. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on Portland Clay House:

E-mail: info@portlandclayhouse.com