Studio House Rules
Because of the communal nature of Clay Art Center, the administration has formulated a few House Rules which help maintain the cooperative atmosphere. These policies have safety and respect for fellow Artists as their central theme. Neatness and cleanliness are understood to be an inherent part of safety.
Access
Each CAC Artist is given a key and has unlimited access to Clay Art Center facilities. A responsibility comes with this access; it is each CAC Artist’s responsibility to maintain a secure facility while they are on premises and to assure that the premises are neat, clean and secure when they leave. CAC Artists have access to communal glaze and kiln rooms (more information below). CAC Artists may bring in the equipment and supplies necessary for their work but should keep them in their private spaces.
Security
From time to time a CAC Artist may be alone in the Clay Art Center facility or may be the last one leaving the facility. It is the CAC Artist’s responsibility to make certain that all doors and windows to the facility are appropriately locked when leaving:
Turn off all lights and make sure sink water is completely off
Turn down the heat or turn off air conditioning
Close and lock the windows and doors
Report needed repairs to the studio manager at august@clayartcenter.org. In case of emergency reach out to the following people :
August Brosnahan: august@clayartcenter.org; (914) 409-6432
Emily Peck: emily@clayartcenter.org; (914) 548-6076
Parking
Parking decals are available to CAC Artists on a first-come-first-serve basis and must be signed out.
The decals and sign-out sheet is located in the glaze room.
List the decal number, your name and the time you are signing it out on the sheet.
Place the decal (ideally in the back) window of your car.
Before leaving the studio, return the decal and sign it back in on the sheet. Decals are limited and MUST be returned the same day/evening. Consistent failure to do so could result in loss of access to shared permits.
If you know you will not be at the studio for more than 3 hours, you may park in the center aisle and the side spaces to the right of the gallery front door of the parking lot without risking a ticket, or park on Beech Street (check alternate side parking signs).
Individual Artist Studio Space
This is your space to organize as you see fit. You may adjust shelving and use the space on top and underneath as long as you leave at least 2 feet between your materials and the ceiling for fire safety purposes. Decor materials are not permitted (e.g., fabric, etc.) as they attract dust.
Please keep your belongings and artwork within the confines of your own space or shelf so as not to encroach on other’s space or the shared space.
Please sweep and mop your space weekly to reduce dust/foot tracks in the shared studio areas.
Communal Spaces
Please keep in mind that this space is for all Artists to use. We ask that you abide by the following rules for the benefit of everyone.
Please keep in-studio conversations low when others are working.
Phone calls should be taken outside of the studio.
Please note that the Mosaic table next to the spray booth is not for use by artists without staff permission.
If you are sick, please stay home
For your safety, if you are at CAC alone at night, please lock yourself in
Participate in studio wide Clean Up Days (twice annually)
Each Artist is responsible for his/her own clay disposal or recycling
Once you are done working for the day, please clean the areas where you have worked (wedging boards, tables, sink area, wheels).
Store all of your work in progress within your assigned studio space. The common areas are not for storage of work in progress.
Sweeping compound is available for artists when cleaning up dry clay that has fallen on the floor around their workspace. A little goes a long way, so please use sparingly. When using the compound please mark your initials on the calendar date attached to the top of the box, so we can track its use.
If you are the last person at the studio, please make sure the following has been done:
All the windows are closed
The a/c is off or the heat is turned down
The lights are turned off and the doors are closed and locked.
The following are not permitted inside the buildings:
Smoking is not permitted inside the buildings or near studio entrances
Dry sanding
The use of oil base materials or odorous materials without proper ventilation
Generally speaking, amplified music is not allowed in the studio. If you want to do this as an exception, please ask those working around you for permission first, and be sure to turn the music off before you leave the studio.
Sink Areas
The sinks are for washing and rinsing ONLY. We want to minimize clay and debris from going into the piping to avoid damage and blockages.
Do not leave buckets, dishes or tools in the sinks or racks
Do not dump chunks of clay in the bucket in the sink.
If you are the first one in, please skim off and dispose of the clear water that has risen to the top of the rinse bucket
Periodically scoop a bit of sediment that has accumulated at the bottom and dispose of it in the trash.
Wheel Areas
If using the wheels, please leave them and the area around the wheel clean.
In addition to cleaning the wheel surface & splash pans, please sweep or mop around the wheel to remove shavings or wet clay that has spilled around the wheel.
Please leave bat pins in the wheels.
Remember to turn the wheel off when you are finished.
Bringing Guests to the Studio
Please be considerate of your fellow Artists when bringing guests to the studio whether it is in a private or shared space. Guests are never allowed to glaze on their own. Children should be supervised at all times.
Food & Food Garbage
So as not to attract mice and vermin, do not leave dishes or containers in any sink, food out on the counters or in your space.
Food garbage should be thrown away in the kitchen area only.
If the studio garbage cans are full, please empty them.
Cooking should only be done in the kitchen.
Storage of Clay & Supplies
All personal clay, tools and supplies should be stored within the confines of your assigned studio space. Items left in the common areas are assumed to be for everyone’s use.
A minimal amount of clay overflow may be stored on the shelves by the back stairs in the upstairs shared studio. We ask that people limit the amount stored here to no more than two boxes, so that everyone has the opportunity for some overflow space.