STUDIO ACCESS STUDENT GUIDELINES

Everyone using the studio must cooperate in maintaining the studio and following the procedures outlined in this guide to keep the space functioning smoothly and to ensure your safety and the safety of fellow students and staff while using the space.

During your studio access session there is no tuition, however there will be staff members around to assist you with studio processes and safety concerns when needed.


STUDIO DRESS CODE

  • You must wear closed toed shoes within the space while using studio equipment at all times

  • Safety glasses and P2 face masks are available upon request where required

  • Long hair must be tied back as there is a chance of it being caught in equipment

  • Loose clothing is not advised due to the chance of it being caught in equipment

  • Students are required to bring their own apron and towel


COVID-19 PROCEDURES

The below is a guide only as the pandemic guidelines change often. Please touch base with studio staff for the most up to date information regarding Covid-19 safety procedures.

  • Where applicable students and visitors are required to scan the QR code to sign in when entering the studio in accordance with Government guidelines

  • Where applicable students are required to comply with wearing a mask in the studio in accordance with the Government guidelines unless a copy of an exemption is presented 

  • Ensure to sanitise your space once finished in the studio. This includes wheels, splash pans, stools, buckets, tools and wheel table in front of your space

INDIVIDUAL SAFETY 

  • Lifting of anything over 10kg requires the assistance of at least one other person (studio staff member). If something is too heavy for you to lift alone, please ask studio staff for assistance

  • Do not stand on stools or other objects to reach items in high places. Ask a staff member for assistance if you need access to something out of your reach

  • In the event of spillage please clean up using a sponge or mop immediately and put out the safety sign until the space is returned to normal. If you need help to clean up the space please ask a member of staff. Mops can be found next to the ‘Wet Shelf’ at the back of the studio

  • Do not place items or equipment in walkways or doorways or on the floor as this can pose as a tripping hazard

  • In the event of an accident or injury inform a staff member immediately 

  • In the event of an emergency call 000

  • Emergency evacuation procedures will be sent to you in a separate document


USE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE SPACE

  • All tools must remain in the studio at all times. Under no circumstances are any tools or equipment to leave the premises without expressed written permission of the studio coordinator or owner

  • All tools and equipment are to be used in an appropriate manner. If you don’t know how to use something in the studio please ask a studio staff member for assistance

  • All tools and equipment must be cleaned and returned to their original condition and location

  • Do not leave tools in or around the sink area. Ask a staff member if you don’t know where something goes

  • Sink to be wiped down and left in its original condition

  • Students must begin cleanup before the end of the allocated session. 15minutes cleanup time is recommended. Students must return the space to its original state before the session is scheduled to end so that it is ready for the next session 

  • Wheels to be turned off at the end of the session


CLAY USE 

Studio Access students are required to bring their own clay. Please follow the below guidelines in regards to clay use within the studio

  • Clay can be purchased at the studio by block. White clay for wheel throwing is $28 per block and handbuilding clay is $38 per block

  • Students must take their clay home with them at the end of each session 

  • Students are able to purchase reclaimed clay for $5 per kg and must be weighed and paid for before use

  • Left side of the sink is for kitchen use only. No clay or clay related cleaning to happen in the left side of the sink

  • Tools and equipment can be cleaned in the right side of the sink only

  • No clay clumps are to go down the sink. Throwing water can be tipped down the right side of the sink

  • Clay brought in from outside of the studio must get approval from the studio coordinator before use within the space. Please provide firing range and brand. The Studio Coordinator reserves the right to deny the use of specific clay bodies where applicable

  • It is the student’s responsibility to reclaim their own clay if using non-studio clay. Under no circumstances is external clay to be mixed with studio clay reclaim

When working on the wheel

  • If using recycled clay, it can be found in the wheel room next to the kneading bench in a blue lidded bucket labelled ‘Term Student Clay’ 

  • For students using reclaimed clay there are two grey reclaim bins under the kneading bench in which you can recycle the clay at the end of your session. One for wet clay/clay slops after throwing you can put your discarded clay in this bin. The other is for trimmings/greenware which is suitable for you to put your clay scraps after trimming pots and any unfired greenware pots that are broken or that you no longer want

  • There is to be no outside clay or handbuilding clay found in the wheel room reclaim buckets under any circumstances

  • There is to be no fired clay put into the reclaim bins under any circumstances. This includes bisqueware and stoneware


When handbuilding

  • There is to be no outside clay or handbuilding clay found in the wheel room reclaim buckets under any circumstances

  • There is to be no fired clay put into the reclaim bins under any circumstances. This includes bisqueware and stoneware


STUDENT WORK STORAGE AND CARE

  • It is the responsibility of the student to maintain their work throughout the making process. Studio staff are not responsible for monitoring studio access work

  • Students are allocated a space to store their work and are responsible for wrapping their work 

  • Students are responsible for labelling their work. If your work isn't clearly labelled it will go on the ‘Mystery Land’ shelf in the studio

  • If work is ready to be bisque fired it is the students responsibility to put it on the ‘bisque’ shelf

  • If your work has been bisque fired and is ready to be glazed students can find their pieces on the ‘glaze’ shelf

  • All work that has been glazed and is ready to be glaze fired should be placed on the ‘fired’ shelf in the studio


GLAZING GUIDE

  • Wax resist is available to use to wax the bottom of your work and there are allocated brushes to use specifically for wax only

  • All glazed pieces must have a 1cm or finger width margin from the base of the work to allow for glaze running

  • Double dipping into glazes is only permitted on the top 1/3rd of the pot

  • Glaze application must not be too thick. If your glaze is cracking and flaking off it is too thick and must be washed off and reglazed once the pot is fully dry again. Any pot with thick glaze application will not be fired

  • It is the responsibility of the student to ensure their work is suitable for firing. The bases of all glazed pots must be wiped back with a clean damp sponge and there must be no glaze left on the base for any reason. If your work has glaze on the the base it will not go through the kiln

  • If for any reason you are using a glaze that is not provided by the studio you must provide a cookie (tray made of unglazed stoneware clay) for the studio staff to place on in the kiln to ensure the preservation of the kiln shelves should the glaze run. If a cookie is not provided your work will not be fired

  • Current glazing applications at the studio are dipping and brushing. We do not offer spray on glazing facilities at this time

  • All glazes brought to the studio by students must be approved by the Studio Coordinator before use. The Studio Coordinator reserves the right to deny the use of any glazes that may pose issues during the firing process

  • If glaze in glaze bucket is low please inform a studio staff member

  • All glazing utensils are found on the right side of the kitchen in the drawers under the bench and hanging on the wall

  • All glazes are found under the bench in the kitchen area

  • All studio glazes have corresponding test tiles as an example of what to expect your piece to turn out like. These are found on the bench in the kitchen area

  • Mix glazes thoroughly with a spatula or toilet brush to fully incorporate all ingredients and ensure an even application

FIRING

  • Studio staff do their best to load the kilns safely and efficiently however, due to the nature of ceramics there is a chance that your pot may not come out the way you expected

  • Studio staff will do their best to fire your work within a timely manner (generally within 4 weeks) however, during peak times such as end of term and in the lead up to Christmas the lead time for your work to be glaze fired may increase 

  • Firing of work is priced at $15 per kg per firing and your work will be weighed after its final firing