Ceramics Studio Policies 

Below you will find important information about the Ceramics Studio and guidelines for its use, including:

• Equipment Guidelines & Fines

• Clay Materials Fee

• Studio Guidelines

• Open Studio & New Pass Package Policies

• Disclaimer of Liability to Fire Ceramic Material

This page was last updated July 2024.

Equipment Guidelines & Fines

Our equipment is cherished (and expensive!). Before bringing your work to fire with us, check the following to avoid disappointment and/or additional fees:

1. Glazed work must not have any glaze on the bottom

2. Clay and glaze must be rated to Cone 6-10

If you are a ceramics student, you are required to purchase clay through Berkshire Art Center to use and fire during your class.

If you are a community member wanting to fire outside work, you are encouraged to use materials supplied by Berkshire Art Center. Clay and glaze materials not purchased at Berkshire Art Center needs authorization before being fired by the Ceramics Studio Manager. Please email ceramics@berkshireartcenter.org with detailed information about your clay or glaze material as well as a photo of the label.

If you are not sure what cone your clay or glaze should be fired to, don’t bring it to Berkshire Art Center. We fire our reduction and soda kilns to Cone 10. You will be responsible for damage to our equipment by firing a low fire clay or glaze.

Due to kiln shelf limitations, we limit the dimension of artist’s work to 16x16x16 inches. Private firings are available.

CERAMICS FIRING FINES

Grinding Fines: When glaze drips on to a kiln shelf, it can sometimes be ground off to preserve the shelf. If your work is the culprit, you will be fined $15 per piece. If more substantial damage occurs, the kiln damage fine will be in effect.

Kiln Damage Fine: If you have brought clay or glaze that should not be fired to Cone 6 and it damages our kiln, you will be charged at cost for repairs or replacement. This can be upwards of $1,000. 

Clay Materials Fee

• For students, there is a materials fee for every 25-pound sleeve of clay used, which also covers the cost of firing. More clay can be purchased if needed.  

• Students may not bring in outside clay unless given explicit authorization by the ceramic studio manager. 

Studio Guidelines

General Guidelines

• Do not handle other people’s work without their permission. If you break something, please leave a note with the piece.

• Do not touch kilns, unload them or put things on top of them.

• Be careful when mixing glazes with the drill, as the blade is sharp.

• Be sure to clean all of the glaze off of the bottom of your piece. Pots that are not cleaned appropriately will be omitted from the firing.

• Do not use dry materials, oxides or stains and glaze materials. Ask a teacher for assistance.

• Sanding and grinding are discouraged and must be done outdoors.

• If using RED clay please use a red-only canvas when rolling slabs and working on the canvas tables. Clean up thoroughly when using red clay at the wheels.

• Label your work before placing on the bisque cart.

• Firing schedules are posted on the studio bulletin board.

• End of Session: Finish all wet work in the final class. Students have two weeks, following the last class, to complete and glaze work in open studio.

• Bisque and glazed wares that are not picked up within 6 weeks will be repurposed.

• Open studio: Routine maintenance occurs daily between classes and open studio sessions. Please do not arrive before the session begins. Begin clean up in time to finish promptly at the end time.

• NEW! Please pick up and drop off your work Monday-Friday during BAC’s regular morning or afternoon Open Studio hours as posted on the activity schedule, not during class time.

Clean-Up Guidelines

Be responsible for cleaning up after yourself in class and Open Studio. Make sure that you have completed the checklist below before you leave the studio.

• Work tables with canvas surfaces: Scrape off extra clay and wipe down thoroughly with a large sponge so that no clay remains on the canvas.

• Wheels: Clean wheels well. Check buckets for sponges, chamois or tools before emptying into the appropriate larger slip bucket. Turn wheel off when not in use. Trimmings or mess on the floor should be mopped / swept up.

• Wedging Board: Clean clay off with scraper and sponge.

• Sinks: Use the slop buckets in the sinks for cleaning dirty tools, buckets and hands. Use clean water for final rinse. Do not leave containers, paint brushes, etc. in or on the sinks; return them to their designated locations.

• Glaze Area: After glazing, wipe down your surface and any drips or spills on the floor. Cover glaze buckets and push under the counter. Wash off stir sticks and return to their container. Wash paint brushes well and return to their container. Return glaze samples to their proper location.

• Clay Tools: Clean well and replace in marked containers.

• Small Sponges: Rinse them out, making sure to remove all traces of oxides and glazes, and replace in marked container.

• Slab Roller: Clean canvas and slab roller of all clay particles and place canvas in designated space to dry out.

• Ware Boards/Plastic: Put away ware boards and plastic after removing them from your work; do not leave them on class shelves.

In our ongoing effort to maintain a healthy, vibrant ceramics community we ask that you fully review the Ceramic Safety in the Arts information from UMass Amherst.

Studio Etiquette

At Berkshire Art Center’s Ceramics Studio, we are a community of artists sharing studio space. It is important that we be considerate of our fellow artists, so that everyone can work creatively and safely.

The following suggestions will make the studio a pleasant and productive space for all who are learning and working there:

• Keep your voice low when speaking to others, so that it doesn’t distract people who are trying to focus on their work.

• Be aware of containing your personal workspace; don’t spread out too far, and make room for others.

• When placing your work on the ware carts, follow the guidelines below so that others will have space to put their work, as well.

• Place your pieces toward the back of the shelf and close to other pieces. If you need help making space, ask an instructor.

• If your piece is flat or short in height, place it on a shelf of corresponding height, instead of on a shelf that is very tall, which should be reserved for taller pieces.

• Place only clay work on the bisque cart: no ware boards, plastic, newspaper, supports, etc.

• Remove bisqued pieces promptly from the shelf next to the kilns and store them in your cubby.

Open Studio

During your enrolled semester in Berkshire Art Center ceramics class, you are welcome to use the studio during non-class hours, referred to as Open Studio time. Open Studio time is for finishing up class projects and practicing techniques. We encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity. As Berkshire Art Center is a learning environment, Open Studio is not available for mass production or work on projects unrelated to your class. The Open Studio schedule will be posted in the studio and online at the beginning of every semester. Please follow the schedule and wait for a class to end before entering the studio for Open Studio time, and make sure that you have cleaned up and are out of the open studio at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of a class.

NEW! OPEN STUDIO PASS PACKAGE

As of June 25th, 2024, Open Studio cubby rental subscriptions are no longer available. Berkshire Art Center has created a new Open Studio Pass, which includes Open Studio access and a cubby rental for one price for an 8 week period of time on a first come, first serve sign up basis. This pass does not include firing fees or use of glazes.

Please note this new pass package is meant for those who only do Open Studio independently and are not enrolling in a class. Students enrolled in classes do not need to purchase this package and instead will receive an email from jen@berkshireartcenter.org after their first day of class with a unique coupon code and the calendar link to sign up for Open Studio.

No prorated Open Studio passes are available and drop-in Open Studio use is not currently available at this time.

Questions? Email ceramics@berkshireartcenter.org

WAITLIST POLICY

• The waitlist for an Open Studio Pass does not carry from season to season. Those on the waitlist will be contacted if anyone cancels their pass or a space becomes available within the session in which the waitlist was started. 

• If an Open Studio Pass spot becomes available, it will be offered to the waitlist on a first come, first served basis. Open Studio Passes will not be prorated.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• If an Open Studio participant cancels their pass package prior to the term start date, they will be fully refunded.

• If an Open Studio participant cancels their pass package within the first 7 days, they will be refunded minus a $10 cancellation fee.

• If an Open Studio participant cancels their pass package after one week past the term start date, no refund will be issued.

ORIENTATION

A Ceramics Studio Orientation is required for anyone who is new to Berkshire Art Center’s Ceramics Studio and must be completed prior to signing up for Open Studio. Returning students who would like a refresher are also welcome to sign up for an Orientation. Schedule an Orientation!