Studio Policy

Introduction

Covid-19 Guidelines

General Safety

General Rules

Cancellation Policy

Invoices

Clays & Glazes

Firing

Clean Up Policy

Open Studio

Photography & Video Release

Visitors

Food & Drinks

Pets

Bathroom

Bikes

Emergency Procedures:

• In the event of an emergency, promptly exit the studio using the designated 31st or 32nd street doors.

• Familiarize yourself with the emergency evacuation routes and follow instructions from staff members.

• Please refer to the map of the studio for emergency exits.

General Safety

• Members and students knowingly and freely assume the risk of any and all accidents or injuries of any kind that may be occurred by, or in connection with use of facilities or equipment and assume full responsibility while using the equipment.

• If you do not know how to use certain equipment, PLEASE ask our staff for training! This includes the extruder, slab roller, spray booth, etc. If you break any equipment because you used it without prior training, you will be liable for any damage caused.

• There is no dry sanding allowed in the studio.  The only permitted sanding is the wet sanding with wet grinding bats. These bats are available in the office upon request from staff. 

First Aid Kit:

• The office/kiln room houses the first aid kit.

• In case of minor injuries, please utilize the first aid supplies as needed.

• Notify a staff member immediately if there is a medical emergency requiring professional assistance.

Liability for Personal Property:

• DOCLAY NYC is not liable for any loss or damage to personal belongings or artwork within the studio premises.

• Please take appropriate measures to secure and safeguard your valuables.

• Please do not use or touch anything that does not belong to you other than our communal tools.

• Please inquire about locker rentals and rates with staff.

• Lockers are only to be used by members, not students.

• Locker rental must be returned with termination of memberships. Leftover unclaimed pieces will be discarded or donated after one month.

• Locker rental must be paid even if membership is on pause. 

Storage and Shelf Usage

• General membership includes 47.5” wide x 16” tall x 17.5” deep (2.4 sq ft) of shelf space - there is no other designated space for personal items or pieces.

• Semi-private membership comes with a personal work table (7 sq ft) along with a column of shelves (2.5 sq ft) to store work.

• Member shelves are specifically reserved for studio members to store their personal belongings, projects, and materials. Your work should only be outside of your shelf if you are actively working on it, or it is in line (on a cart) to be fired. Any work found outside of these areas will be removed.

• Members cannot store more than 50lbs of clay on their shelves.  Any other clay must be stored outside of the studio, or in a locker available for rent. 

• Please refrain from using or moving items on shelves that do not belong to you without obtaining permission from the respective owner. If a member finds an item on their shelf that is not theirs, it will be discarded immediately.

• Treat others' shelves with the same consideration and respect you would expect for your own.

• There is no wet or dry room.

• There is a section for large work storage that is only available upon request from staff at the front desk. These are only for pieces that are too large to fit on your shelf. This space is intended for temporary use only.

• Class shelves are intended for class-related projects and are reserved solely for the use of students enrolled in the respective classes.

Respect for Others:

• Show consideration for fellow studio members by respecting their work and personal space. We are a zero tolerance establishment and will not accept any form of discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. This will result in immediate membership or student termination. If you feel unsafe or have experienced any type of discrimination please report to the office immediately. 

• If you accidentally damage someone's work, kindly leave a note acknowledging the incident and report it to a staff member.

• Open communication and accountability foster a supportive community environment.

Cell Phone Etiquette:

• To maintain a peaceful studio environment, please limit cell phone calls within the studio.

• For extended phone conversations, we kindly request that you step outside the studio to minimize disruptions.

By adhering to these studio rules and policies, we create a safe, respectful, and productive environment for all members. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to fostering a positive studio experience.

Membership, membership pause fee, and locker rental invoices are sent on the first of each month. Overdue invoices must be paid by the 20th of each month. Failure to do so without an explanation will result in membership termination.

All memberships require payment by Square Card on File for automatic monthly payments. Payments may be made by check, any bounced check will have a $45 processing fee.

Memberships may only be prorated at a half month rate on the 15th or after.

Clay in the barrels (recycled white stoneware house clay) is included with class enrollment and membership. A fresh bag of white stoneware (240 or 240G) is included with memberships.  Other clays can be purchased by members and students at the office. Always leave lids on clay and glaze buckets to avoid drying out and contamination.

House clay reclaim buckets are located next to the sinks. Be careful not to put other clays than the house clay or loose tools in the clay or buckets. When putting clay back into the bucket, please break the pieces down to small sizes and push down through the mesh. Bisqued and glazed pieces should not go in the reclaim bin. Let’s keep our staff safe :)

There is no low or high fire glazes or clay allowed in the studio. We are a cone 6 studio only. Outside clays or glazes are only allowed with prior approval from a Studio Manager.

Use one glaze at a time to prevent contamination and please do not dump glazes down the sink.

Do not thin glazes or add anything to our glazes; ask Studio Technicians for help instead. This applies to Instructors as well. Glazes are calculated with a viscometer and a hydrometer for specific gravity and viscosity; please don’t tweak or let others tweak. Ask trained staff to do so if you’re concerned about a glaze.

Please do not eat or drink in the glaze room.

Most of our glazes are food-safe unless otherwise noted. Please ask a staff member if you are unsure. Unglazed washes and slips are not food-safe.

Payment and Firing Program:

• Prior to firing, all work must be paid for in full.

• Member + student rate: 4 cents per cubic inch per firing.

• Students and members will utilize the firing program system through the Square terminal located at the office window.

• Please be advised after a few hours of your transaction we are unable to print another receipt through the Square terminal.

• To re-fire a piece, please create a new firing ticket (4 cents per cubic inch) before placing it on the firing cart.

Kiln Rentals

• We offer kiln rentals for both members and students. Please email us to set up a kiln rental! 

• We have two different sizes for kiln rentals: medium and large. 

• Medium Kiln $250, 28 x 28 x 27 Deep, 9.9 cubic ft

• Large Kiln $430, 41 x 31 x 27 Deep, 16.5 cubic ft

Firing Slip and Chip Requirement:

• All work must be accompanied by a firing slip.

• Students must place a chip in their greenware pieces for identification purposes.  

• Students must not put a chip in their glazed pieces.

• Members do not need to place a chip in any of their pieces. 

Lost Firing Slips:

• DOCLAY NYC is not responsible for any lost firing slips.

• It is important to keep track of your firing slips to ensure proper processing of your work.

Preparation for Glaze Firing:

• Please leave ⅛ inch unglazed on the base of each piece, and be sure to fully wipe the bottom

• If you choose to have glaze on the bottom of your piece and would like it fired on stilts, this must be communicated with staff.

• The way that you load your glazed items onto the cart is the way that they will be loaded into the kiln. For example, jars with lids on will be fired together. Place them separately if you would like them fired separately.

• Pieces that are not suitable for glaze firing (excess glaze on the bottom, glaze that is too thick, etc) will be moved to the glaze room on our “Oopsie Glazey” shelf with a note on what needs to be changed to load the piece.

• Damages to kiln shelves during firing will incur a $40 kiln shelf fee for replacement.

Preparation for Bisque Firing:

• For members, if possible, please let work fully bone dry on your personal shelf before submitting it for firing. If there is moisture still within the clay there is risk of explosion, to your piece and damage to others. We will only be firing pieces that you are able to pick up yourself.  Anything heavier will not be fired. 

• Larger pieces may take longer to get through the firing process as they impact kiln loading and space. 

"Hospital Shelf":

• If you are unable to locate your work, please check the "Hospital Shelf" near the glaze pick-up area.

• The "Hospital Shelf" is designated for damaged pieces and items without firing slips.

Firing Credit and Damages:

• DOCLAY NYC is not responsible for providing firing credit for undesired or inconsistent firing results, kiln accidents, or damages caused by another artist's work.

• No refunds are available for breakage, cracking, or imperfect firing of any kind unless caused by staff.

• Studio Management has the discretion to grant firing credit in such situations.

• Semi-Private firing credit is only for regular or expedited firing and is not applicable for other purchasable items such as tools, kiln rentals, clay, etc. 

Production and Output:

• Please keep in mind that DOCLAY NYC is not a production studio.

• We kindly request that you limit your output within reason, considering the nature of our community studio.

• Please make sure to manage your shelf space with the amount of pieces that you are making/planning to make.

• Please glaze and take home your pieces in a timely manner to open up space for the continuous production of work.

Firing Schedule:

• Please allow 2-3 weeks for each firing. At certain times we are overloaded with pieces and there may be a delay in getting your pieces back.

• We have an option for “Expedite Firing” at a higher firing fee, please allow 1 week for each firing. Expedite firing does not mean that your piece will be loaded the same day - your piece will be placed in the first available kiln, which could be the day after you submit it.

• Disclaimer: our firing schedule can be affected by factors such as kiln maintenance, holidays, and the end of semester rush.

Piece Pick Up:

• All finished pieces must be picked up within 2 months. All bisqueware must be glazed before the completion of the class semester.

• All pieces left past 2 months will be discarded or donated. Staff will give an advanced notice when shelf cleanouts are happening.

These policies ensure a smooth and efficient firing process while maintaining a well-managed studio environment. Please direct any inquiries to a Studio Manager for further clarification or guidance.

Studio Cleanliness:

• Everyone is required to clean up their work space when finished working. This includes wheel, splash pan, stool, the floor around your wheel, bucket, and communal tools.

• After using common areas such as hand building tables, glaze room, wedging table, spray booth, etc, you must clean up the space you used.

• Address spills promptly; mops are available throughout the studio.

• There is no sweeping, please use a wet sponge/mop for dust reduction; rinse sponges when finished. Exposure to crystalline silica dust can cause cancer or silicosis. Avoid breathing dust.

• Most tools are located in the studio office, please ask a staff member if a tool is needed and bring it back after use.

Work Disposal:

• Work left on the tables or counters will be discarded. 

By following these guidelines, we maintain a clean studio environment. Students and members share responsibility in keeping the studio tidy.

Open studio is available to members and students via our booking system on our website. Please respect the hours and do not show up early or leave late.

Open studio hours are: Every Day: 10 AM - 10 PM 

• Please do not arrive earlier than 10 AM as this allows staff to have the time and space for cleaning the studio. If you arrive earlier than 10 AM please feel free to wait in the waiting area by the elevators.

All members and students should begin cleaning by 9:30 PM. Please be aware that we close promptly at 10 PM. We appreciate your help in respecting our staff’s time by planning your departure accordingly.

Book 3 hour slots here

Door: please check your email for instructions from “Kisi”and create an account to enter our door security system

From time to time the studio may be closed for an event or maintenance/repairs. We will notify members by email of any occasional closures.

Studio members (not students) are allowed to bring guests for $50/day. Guests must be accompanied by members and there are extra fees for firing their work.

Failure to uphold these policies will result in immediate termination. 

Let us know if you have any questions and concerns, we'll see you in the studio!

Thank you for joining DOCLAY!