Terms & conditions

Contract of Sale:
Completion of our booking process and the payment of a deposit constitutes your understanding and acceptance of our terms and conditions and thus forms your contract with Grit Ceramic Studio.

General Information:
All clays and glazes available to students at Grit Ceramics Studio are lead free and non-toxic upon being fully fired. Provided they do not have cracks on the inside, students’ will be food safe and ready to use upon pickup. While our clays and glazes are dishwasher safe, we recommend hand washing them to make sure your pieces stay safe. Students are likely to get at least a little dirty during the class, so we recommend that they dress accordingly. Short skirts as well as tall shoes and heels may make the process of sitting at and operating a wheel uncomfortable. Long unrestrained hair can be inconvenient during throwing, as well as potentially dangerous. Students should wear comfortable clothing that can get dirty. While clay does typically come out of clothing easily, darker clay bodies and underglaze can leave a light stain on white or light colored clothing. Long nails can make throwing more challenging, so we recommend that students trim their nails short before taking a wheel throwing class and remove any rings, bracelets, or watches before the class begins.

Deposit and Fees:
A $10 deposit per person per class will be due at registration to hold a place in the class. This deposit is eligible for a refund, or may be applied towards another class at a different date or time, up to 24 hours before the start time of the original booking. Any cancellation made within 24 hours of the start time of the original booking is non-refundable and non-transferable. Special exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructor and Grit Ceramics Studio, please reach out to us at gritceramicsstudio@gmail.com for assistance in this. Regarding a day of cancelation, or no call no show, deposit will be given to your instructor as compensation for their time.

The price of a class includes an introduction to the firing process, an in depth demonstration by the instructor, the clay to make 2-3 small pieces (the student will choose their favorite 2 pieces to leave at the studio to be finished by their instructor), and their choice of glaze for their piece to be finished with. Grit Ceramics Studio is a cash free business and cannot accept checks at this time. Payments made online and in store must be paid via credit or debit card.

The remainder of the cost will be due at the end of the class, where students will check out with their instructor. These class fees are final sale and non-refundable.Tips for instructors at check out are welcome. 100% of any added gratuity will go directly to the instructor.

Firing Times and Breakage:
Grit Ceramic Studio is a shared communal space, with many other workshops, classes, and programs using the same facilities. Instructors typically have student work finished and ready for pick up 4-6 weeks after the date of the original class. Paint-Your-Own-Pottery pieces typically take about 2-3 weeks. Workshop students with oversized pieces may take a bit longer, as their pieces will require a longer drying time and take up more space in our kilns. During certain times of the year, such as the winter holiday season and the end of summer, there may be a higher influx of work flowing through the space than usual, which may slow the firing process down for some pieces. If a student’s pieces are taking longer than the typical time frame, instructors will reach out to communicate with students to inform them where their pots are in the process and when they can expect them to be ready for pick up.

Grit Ceramic Studio will inform customers when their pots are ready for pick up and will hold them for up to 3 months in the studio. After the 3 month window has passed, instructors will reach back out to customers, reminding them of the pick up window, and a grace period of 1 month until their pieces will have to be disposed of in the interest of maintaining open storage for the flow of work. Customers may come and pick up pieces any time during our open hours or can email us at gritceramicsstudio@gmail.com to schedule a pickup. If consent is given by both parties, one customer will be able to pick up the work of a friend or relative, provided the work of both customers is finished and packed.

Grit Ceramic Studio and its employees work to ensure that pieces are made well and are taken care of to the best of their abilities from the start of a class until pieces are picked up by their customers, however accidents do happen occasionally and some pieces will not survive the firing process. It is very common for beginner pieces to have small stress cracks on the bottoms and sides of pieces, as long as these do not go through to the inside of the pot, the pieces are still safe to hold food and beverages. Pieces with attachments, such as handles or appliques, are also liable to experience cracks or breakage at the attachment site. Rarely, cracks will not appear until a piece is microwaved or very hot water is poured inside. Again, this is common with handmade pieces, especially when made by beginners. While instructors will provide tips on how to avoid these, they may still appear on student pieces after firing and are sometimes reparable even after firing. While your instructor is not responsible for breakages, they may be able to provide advice on at home repairs.

In rare circumstances, a piece may be severely broken during the firing process. In these cases, the instructor will reach out to the customer to ask if they would like the instructor to attempt a repair, a replacement, or will work with the customer to find a satisfactory resolution to the situation. Grit Ceramic Studio requests that all students taking a class, summer camp, or workshop understand the risks and realities of working in clay and that there is always a chance that pieces will not make it out of the kiln exactly as the customer expects.

Age Requirement and Accessibility:
At this time, Grit Ceramic Studio cannot accommodate unaccompanied minors in mini classes or workshops. It is a functioning ceramic space and as such has many potential dangers on the premises. Instructors will be fully focused on teaching their students and cannot be responsible for keeping an eye out for wandering children. All solo participants must be 18 years of age or older, anyone under that age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. We also request that anyone accompanying a minor sign up for a space in the class, as they are excellent opportunities for bonding and are typically more entertaining than sitting to the side. Children under the age of 7 will typically have a difficult time in wheel throwing classes, with a few exceptions, so we recommend handbuilding classes instead for children ages 4-6. We formally request that customers not bring children into the space under the age of 4.

There is no age cap at Grit Ceramic Studio and we are an ADA accessible space. We do ask that requests for accommodations be made in advance so that instructors can be prepared to make any necessary adjustments to the class. Some classes and activities may be more challenging for differently abled students, and Grit Ceramic Studio will do our best to create a class that will be comfortable and fulfilling to all who enter the space..

Cell Phones and Behavioral Expectations:
Grit Ceramic Studio kindly asks that all students turn off, silence, or switch personal devices to vibrate during the course of its classes. Please refrain from making phone calls during the class or if waiting inside the space as it can be very distracting to other students. Students may take photos and videos of themselves or others in their party, but please do not take photos or videos of other students or instructors without their consent. Note that students will be getting their hands dirty and may have an easier time focusing on the class without the distraction of a mobile device.

Grit Ceramic Studio strives to be an inclusive space and requests mutual respect for all students and instructors. Customers that display behaviors which may be deemed demeaning, inappropriate, or dangerous in nature will be asked to desist. If requests for polite behavior are ignored, Grit Ceramics Studio reserves the right to demand that said customers leave the premises. The offending party will not be eligible for a refund.

While adults participating in classes who are above the age of 21 are welcome to provide their own light alcoholic refreshment, we do request that imbibing is done within a respectable limit. Ceramics is a challenging art form that very quickly becomes difficult when participants are intoxicated and drunken behavior can be a huge distraction for instructors and other students, as well as a potential hazard in a functioning studio. Smoking and vaping is not allowed inside the studio and must be done outside. The consumption of illegal substances, including alcoholic beverages by anyone on the premises under the age of 21, is strictly forbidden.

At this time, due to the risks of food contamination and studio cleanliness, we do ask that no students or customers eat in the workspaces within the studio.

Gallery Sales:
Any additional pieces purchased at Grit Ceramic Studio must be paid for in person at the studio. Sales tax will be added at the time of purchase. Studio employees will wrap the pieces carefully and bag them for safe transport, however Grit Ceramic Studio and its employees are not liable for damages to pieces that occur after purchase. All gallery sales are final. At this time, Grit Ceramic Studio does not ship gallery items or allow items to be purchased online