F.A.Q.

Course logistics + Enrollment

  • We recommend our Intro to Wheel (8-Week) course or our Introduction to Handbuilding (8-Week) course. If you aren't ready to commit to a multi-week course, our Sip & Spin or one-time workshops are great, low-pressure ways to try out clay for a single evening.

  • OUR MAKEUP POLICY: Every multi-week course automatically includes one scheduled makeup week held immediately following the final regular class session. This allows you to catch up on missed instruction or finish up your pieces.

  • GENERAL CLASSES + WORKSHOPS: Open to adults of all skill levels. Specific programs list their own age requirements.

    SUNDAY MUG CLUB: 16+

    AFTER SCHOOL CERAMICS: 12-18 years of age 

    SIX WEEK COURSES (Pots for Plants, Seasonal Series): 16+

    PRIVATE EVENTS + LESSONS: 10+ (participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21+; a parental consent form is required for participants under 18).

    TINY IMPRESSIONS: Perfect for newborns, infants, and toddlers (accompanied by a parent or guardian)

  • Yes, for our multi-week classes and independent memberships! The amount varies by course duration:

    8-WEEK COURSES: 40 lbs of clay for Intro and Intermediate levels; 50 lbs for Advanced level classes.

    6-WEEK COURSES: 30 lbs of clay.

    4-WEEK COURSES (Sunday Mug Club): 20 lbs of clay.

    INDEPENDENT STUDY MEMBERS: 25 lbs of studio clay per month.

    ADDITIONAL CLAY: Additional clay can be purchased for $2.00 per lb. All students will weigh out and mark what they have taken in the clay ledger.

GENERAL STUDIO PREP + APPAREL

  • While most clays will wash out of clothing, there are many situations in a ceramic studio that could result in a stain! Dress in comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. While standard studio clay and glazes wash out easily in a normal laundry cycle, it is best to leave designer clothing, white fabrics, and expensive gear at home. Closed-toe shoes are mandatory at all times in the studio.

  • Nope! We have you covered. 716 CERAMICS proudly provides clean hand towels for you to use at your station and studio aprons for all students to protect their clothing during their time in the shop.

  • THE FINGERNAIL PRO-TIP: Long fingernails act like knives against wet clay, making centering, pulling walls, and shaping your forms incredibly difficult. Trimming your nails short before your session will make your experience on the pottery wheel much easier and far less frustrating.

    SECURE YOUR HAIR AND JEWELRY:Long hair must be tied securely back away from your face before you operate a spinning pottery wheel. We also highly recommend removing rings, watches, and dangling bracelets before working, as they can easily get caught in moving parts or trap heavy mud.

Membership + Special Events

  • Our Independent Study program is designed for intermediate and advanced artists who can work safely and independently without active instruction. Applicants must:

    • Have completed at least one full multi-week semester course at 716 CERAMICS STUDIO (or provide equivalent documentation from another reputable studio).

    • Submit a portfolio of previous work demonstrating technical ability.

    • Pay the $50 annual Studio Membership fee.

    • Attend a mandatory safety orientation before accessing the studio independently.

    If you are new to clay, we ask that you complete our introductory courses before applying for an open membership slot.

  • Yes! We offer Private Lessons for tailored, one-on-one instruction, as well as Private Parties for groups of up to 24 people — perfect for birthdays, team-building events, or private celebrations. See our Private Events and Private Lessons documents for full details.

STUDIO HYGIENE + AIR QUALITY

  • Clay and glaze materials contain crystalline silica, which is highly hazardous when inhaled as dry dust. To protect our shared air quality, we enforce a strict wet-clean policy. Shaking out clay-covered rags, smacking or dusting off dirty clothing, shaking dry plastic coverings, dry sweeping, or any other action that kicks dry clay particles into the air is strictly prohibited. Always clean up splashes, trimming scraps, and clay residue while they are wet using wet sponges and mops.

  • Wet sanding only, no dry sanding. To preserve our indoor air quality, all sanding of bone-dry or bisqued clay must be done entirely outside the building.

  • Our main studio sinks are equipped with commercial clay traps, but these traps can still clog if overloaded. You must use our Two-Step Basin Wash Method:

    STEP ONE (The Wash): Fill a wash basin or bucket with water at your station. Wash all your tools, splash pans, and hands thoroughly in this stagnant water to remove the bulk of the heavy clay layer.

    STEP TWO (The Rinse): Once the heavy mud is removed, use a brief stream of running water over the trap-equipped sink to complete a final rinse. Do not leave faucets running constantly.

    STEP THREE (Returning Tools): Clean tools and bats should be returned to their appropriate locations for the next students.

  • Absolutely no clay is allowed down the bathroom drains. The bathroom sinks do not have clay traps. No clay tools, splash pans, sponges, or clay-covered plastic may be washed in the bathroom sinks under any circumstances. You must completely clean the clay off your hands at the main studio clay sink first before using the bathroom facilities.

  • Do not touch doorknobs, bathroom door handles, light switches, or retail counters with clay-covered hands. Always use the main studio washing area to clean your hands before navigating through the doors or exiting the main workspace.

CLAY RECLAIM + MATERIAL RULES

  • We process and recycle our clay to minimize waste and keep our community sustainable. All dry scraps and trimmings, regardless of the clay type, go into the exact same communal reclaim bin. Do not sort scraps by clay color or body type unless specifically instructed by a staff member.

  • If you have leftover, unused clay that is still fully wet, workable, or slightly plastic, do not throw it into the reclaim bucket. Instead, hand it over directly to your instructor or the studio manager. We can recycle and reconstitute wet clay much faster without the full reclaim process.

    • No tools or hardware (metal ribs, needle tools, sponge remnants, plastic pieces).

    • No trash or foreign debris (paper towels, plastic wraps, bottle caps).

    • No glazed, bisque-fired, or glaze-fired clay fragments — even chips.

    • No glazes, underglazes, or slips containing colorants.

  • To protect our heating elements and kiln shelves from catastrophic chemical meltdowns, we strictly forbid the general use of any outside clay bodies or unapproved commercial glazes. All clay and glazes must be provided directly by 716 CERAMICS or explicitly vetted and approved. Active Independent Study members may submit an Outside Material Approval Form for review.

KILN ROOM RULES + LIABILITIES

  • No. The kiln room is strictly off-limits to everyone except active 716 CERAMICS staff members. Kilns operate at extreme temperatures, radiate intense heat, and present high-voltage electrical hazards. If you need to check on your work, please ask a studio staff member for assistance.

  • There must be absolute zero glaze on any part of a piece that makes contact with the kiln shelves. You are required to sponge off the entire bottom surface and a full 1/4 inch up the lower side walls of every piece. Improperly glazed work that damages studio kiln shelves is subject to: a formal warning on the first offense; a $30 grinding fine for subsequent offenses; and full replacement costs if a kiln shelf is structurally destroyed.

PHOTO, VIDEO + CODE OF CONDUCT

  • We highly encourage you to document your clay journey! However, ensure your camera angle focuses directly on your workspace. Avoid capturing other students without their explicit verbal permission. No live streaming, commercial filming, or unauthorized recording of other participants is permitted.

  • We love that you want to share your experience! By tagging our official account or using our studio-specific hashtags in your public posts, you grant 716 CERAMICS STUDIO permission to repost or share that specific media on our marketing channels. If you later decide you want it taken down, notify studio management in writing.

  • We are dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and creative environment. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, disruptive behavior, verbal abuse, or the unauthorized handling of another artist's fragile work. Minor infractions receive a formal warning. Repeated or severe violations will result in immediate suspension or permanent termination of studio access, with forfeiture of all remaining tuition and fees.