Warrandyte Pottery Onboarding

Welcome to Warrandyte Pottery Co- Making Memebers

Warrandyte Pottery is a collaborative gallery and studio space established in 2019 and was conceived as a destination to work with emerging and mid-career artists and makers from all over Victoria. Our aim is to create a community for artists and provide support for innovative and inclusive artistic pursuits with an artist-centered approach. We hope to continue to provide exciting opportunities for artists to share their work with our local community and each other. With a strong basis in ethical practices, we work hard to establish and cultivate an environment where all artists are treated as equals and all work is promoted equally and without bias.

Important information

Studio Insurance: Warrandyte Pottery has comprehensive insurance which covers theft, major structural damages, fire and non environmental flood. It does not cover your individual work or any liabilities which may occur from the use of our space. We highly recommend each artist has their own insurance. By signing your contract, you waive the right to peruse Warrandyte Pottery for any damages which occur to members as a result of your time at Warrandyte Pottery.

Breakage policy: Warrandyte Pottery is not liable for breakage of the member’s work which may occur during your time using the studio.

Our expectations: Warrandyte Pottery intends to run an equitable, fair and ethical space where all artists have access to the space equally and fairly. The membership is not a substitute for lessons, and participants are encouraged to join in classes to continue their skill development.

Studio Availability: If studio becomes unavailable during those times for a private function you will be notified with a minimum of 2 weeks notice. In case of emergency, studio works and repairs you will be notified as soon as possible.

Member Studio Times:
Tuesdays: 10am - 9pm
Handbuilding Room 10am - 5pm
Wheel Room from 1pm -9pm

Sundays 10am - 4pm
Both Wheel room and Handbuilding rooms are available at this time


As a member of the Limited Access Studio Program, you will have exclusive access to our studio and equipment every Tuesday from 10am to 8pm. Wheel room is available from 1pm onwards and the Handbuilding room until 5pm only.

During this time, a dedicated studio employee will be present to provide support and assistance as needed. Whether you need guidance on a specific technique or have questions about using a particular tool, our studio employee will be there to help you along the way. It is important to note that this is not a lesson and its is merely assistance here or there. The Studio employee will be completing studio tasks throughout the day.

In addition to the Tuesday studio access, members of the program will also have studio access on Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

Please note that on Sundays, there will not be a studio employee present. However, you will have full access to all equipment and studio glazes to continue working on your projects. Additionally, we will host exclusive studio demonstrations on unique techniques conducted by our experienced studio teachers. These demonstrations will provide you with valuable insights and inspiration for your own creative journey. Please keep an eye out on your emails for demonstration dates and times.

Memeber’s responsibilities:

Members must bring their own clay with them.

There is not private storage for limited access members.

Studio is not in charge of maintaining Members work in any way. 

Only 1 person per membership. Memeberships can not be shared with other individuals.

Under no circumstances are private lessons, workshops, or other form of paid teaching to occur during member access hours, by members.

Condition of Rooms

• Cleaning is necessary after each session. You must begin clean up in ample time to be out of the studio by the time the session is scheduled to end.
• Tables are to be wet wiped clean, wheels cleaned after use, and walls next to the wheels cleaned of splatter.
• Sinks must be wiped out, counters wiped & dried. Do not leave tools or equipment in sink area.
• The floor should be wet-mopped after each studio session.
• It is the member’s responsibility to maintain their own reclaim.

Wheels

• Wheel heads and pans must be cleaned after each use including underneath the wheel head.
• Floor around wheel areas must be cleaned of any splatter or water.
• Wheels are to be turned off after each use.
• Batts and boards are to be cleaned for the next use and returned to proper place.

Glazing

• Only glazes, and under glazes approved by studio may be used. Studio reserves the right to dis-allow any troublesome glazes. Use of Studio Glazes is permitted for an additional fee to be charge alongside firing costs at $5 per small to medium item glazed using studio glaze. $10 for large items and $15 for extra large items.
• Glazes must be applied by brushing or dipping if in glazing room. Spraying or airbrushing
glaze must be done outside the building and in an appropriate spray box (these are not provided by the studio).
• Only the top 1/3 of the work may be double dipped. Same applies to dripping a glaze down the side works.
• A 7mm glaze margin at the bottom of the item is required.
• Check pieces to make sure glaze is wiped off the bottom before putting it on the shelf to be fired.
• Inform the studio if the glaze bucket is empty or low.
• Make certain all the equipment is thoroughly cleaned of glaze before returning to proper storage area.
• Wipe spills from glaze buckets and scrape down the inside wall. Wipe glaze from the rims
of the glaze buckets.
• If in doubt about the proper viscosity of a glaze ask the studio to check it – BEFORE you use it. Water may be decanted or added as necessary at the discretion of the studio.
• If using outside glaze, please provide cookies for each item by placing them under your item on the glaze shelf.

Kiln

• The studio staff are responsible for loading and unloading and firing the kiln.
• Members are not allowed to load, unload or operate kiln.
• Firing is charged at $6 a kg after each firing.
• Full kiln hiring is available upon request at $200.00 per kiln load for the Large Kiln and $125 for the smaller kiln.

Clay

• WPS fires to cone 9, all clay used in the studio will need to have the same firing capacity. Each member is responsible for recycling their own clay.  
• Only work made by studio memebers will be fired.
• All grinding and sanding must be done using a wet method and OHS precautions taken.
• Pots are to be removed from studio batts as soon as possible so others in the space may use them. Dry pots will be removed from batts and placed on shelves by the staff if batts are needed.

Closing Procedures (Applies to each member individually)

• Check all faucets are fully turned off.
• Check that wheels are turned off.
• Check that all equipment is in the proper places, tables and counters are wiped and clean, and glazes are covered. Floors are mopped and mop is placed in appropriate area to dry.
• Members must leave when the scheduled session is over to ensure the space is free for any classes that may follow.

Payments 

Monthly Fees of $175 per month and will be automatically debited from your account monthly on the same day payment was made.

Warrandyte Pottery Requires a $175 deposit at the beginning of your initial agreement. This deposit will cover any breakages of equipment and property; which will be return to you once your time as a member comes to an end if no damages have occurred and all payments are up to date.