Studio Memberships

[ Studio Benefits | Equipment | Rates | Firing Fees | Requirements ]

Studio memberships are designed for ceramic artists who need access to equipment and a place to work. Our members are typically working adults who range from full-time art professionals to part-time hobbyists. Fired Up studio members become part of a community that is passionate about the clay arts.

Studio Benefits

One of the most important benefits Fired Up provides is its community with which you can become involved. Members at Fired Up are very respectful of other members' time and work. You will have the option to work independently, uninterrupted, or to share techniques on throwing, glazing, or tips and tricks.

Fired Up members also work together to keep our studio a great place. Everyone does their part to keep our common equipment and space in good order, because we know it enhances the time we spend here. This is not to say that things don't get messy; they just don't stay that way.

The studio staff move work through the kilns in a very orderly manner according to rules which apply to all. Whether you are an accomplished studio potter or a hobbyist who is still learning, your pieces are treated with the same respect and consideration.

If you are interested in membership, come for a personal tour during office hours. We will be glad to answer any questions you may have. If you come, you won't need much help from us to fall in love with Fired Up.

Equipment

Studio members may use any of the communal equipment housed in the main studio, which includes:

• Brent CXC electric wheels (2-both can be reversed for left-handed throwers)
• Brent C electric wheels (4)
• Pacific 400 electric wheels (2)
• Thomas Stuart kick wheel
• Brent kick wheel
• Treadle wheel
• Bailey slab roller
• Northstar extruder with solid & hollow-form dies
• Wedging table
• Separate porcelain wedging table
• Ware boards, plastic wrapping, water buckets

Rates *

Studio memberships all include the following:

• 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to main studio and equipment so you can come and go at your convenience (you will be given a key)
• Bisque (Cone 06) firing
• Use of our numerous Cone 10 reduction glazes and slips (approximately 20 glazes)
• 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to our glazes, spray booth, and banding wheels
• Gallery space (up to 20 pieces, consignment fee is on a sliding scale based on how much you sell per month and is taken off your monthly bill)
• Space in our two large, well-attended yearly sales

The basic monthly rate includes one-third of a rack (one full shelf plus 1/3 of the top and bottom shelves; maximum of three people per rack); you may rent additional shelves as you need them. You may also rent an entire rack, multiple racks, or a semi-private studio space when one becomes available. Semi-private studios are special sections of the studio area that include several racks, a worktable, and space for a wheel.

Monthly Studio Membership Rates

$50	Key Deposit
$105	One Shelf (18" X 4'), plus 1/3 of the top & bottom shelf on the rack
$155	One Rack (5 shelves)
$210+	Private Studio
$165	per person to share a studio space

Not Included in Your Membership

We want to be entirely up front about what is and what is not included in your studio membership. Here's what's not included:

Cone 10 reduction glaze firing:

We charge our members for the amount (measured in square feet) of work put through cone 10 reduction firings. The maximum size for a piece is two feet in any dimension. Please see Firing Fees for more information.

Clay:

As a convenience for our studio members, we keep a few types of clay available for purchase in 25 lb. bags.

Domestic Porcelain	$13.00
Fireclay with Iron	$12.00
Buff Stoneware	$12.00
Buff with Ochre	$12.00
Raku	$12.00

You may buy your own clay from other sources; however, we recommend you only purchase clay capable of going to cone 10 so there are no mix-ups resulting in melted clay on our kiln shelves.

Kiln Shelf Accidents:

If you consistently use too much glaze so that your piece sticks to our shelves, you will be charged a minimum of $1 per offending piece. Occcasional accidents are permitted; it is only continual offenses that will be fined. These accidents can effect other members work, require our staff to put in extra time cleaning the kiln shelves, and increases the wear and tear on our kiln furniture.

If the clay body you use is not rated for cone 10 and your piece "melts down," you are charged a minimum of $50 for the damage to the kiln. This is easily avoided: if you are unsure of a clay body's cone rating, do not use it. Remember, clay is cheap.

Tools:

Most of the common tools you will need, you should purchase yourself. We do carry some tools and tool kits for sale in the office.

Spray Booth Mask:

If you want to use our glaze spray booth, we require you to wear a respirator that is rated to catch organic vapor. You may purchase these at home improvement stores (they are usually located in the paint aisle).

Studio Access Fee:

A studio access fee of $10 per hour applies if you bring in a guest to the studio or to help you glaze. Visitors are welcome to wait in our lounge area free of charge.

Firing Fees

Glaze Firing (Cone 10 Reduction)

Base Rate: $12 per square foot
Maximum size: 2 feet in any dimension

• Add $2 per item over 9" tall but under 12" tall
• Add $4 per item over 12" wide/tall but under 18" wide/tall
• Add $8 per item over 18" wide/tall but under 24" wide/tall

Requirements

There are a few requirements you must fulfill to hold a studio membership.

• You must be at least 21 years old (we are an adults-only facility).
• You must read and sign our studio membership agreement. This is a very straight-forward document that outlines our mutual expectations and responsibilities.
• You must have taken at least one pottery class outside of high school. You need to know basic skills in order to enjoy the Fired Up experience. Basically, you need to be able to work independently without instruction.
• You must set up automatic payments from a bank account or credit card. Your membership and firing fees will be charged on a monthly basis on the anniversary of your start date.
• You must clean up after yourself, leaving all areas you have used clean and ready for the next person.
• You must respect other members' work, time and space. This means allowing others to work without interruption (wait until a person is done at the wheel or speaks to you first). Conversation is encouraged to take place in the "chat area" so you won't disturb someone working. It is absolutely forbidden to touch anyone's work on any shelf (work shelf, bisque shelf, raw glazed shelf, post-glaze firing shelf) without their direct permission. Work displayed in the gallery is, of course, very touchable.

* All rates and prices are subject to change. This website may not reflect current prices and rates available in the office.

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