Membership information

Members pay $70 per month, which includes everything except clay:

• 24/7 access to the studio
• use of all studio equipment and tools
• Bisque and glaze firings in our electric kilns
• Unrestricted use of our shared glazes
• Ample space for storage of personal tools, works-in-progress, and personal supplies
• Sycamore Ridge Ceramics Studio is not for production potters. All our members are enthusiastic and competent hobby potters.
• Members purchase their own clay. All clay and glazes must be appropriate for our firing schedules (Cone 04 for bisque firing; Cone 5 or 6 for glaze firing)
• We require annual membership commitments. Members may pay their dues month by month or in advance, as they wish.

How to apply: Prospective members who are looking for studio space are required to tour the studio and complete a membership application, and submit photos of their work.

If accepted, a new member will pay an up-front, nonrefundable fee of $210.00 to cover their probationary membership period of three (3) months. At the end of the probationary period, the current members will vote on the provisional member (accept/reject/continue provisional status). If the provisional member is accepted by vote of the complete membership, they will then have the same rights, responsibilities, and privileges as all other members.

To initiate the membership application process, contact the studio owner, Jocelyn Bowie, by email at Jocelyn.bowie@gmail.com. Be sure to put “studio membership application” in the subject line of your email.

Sycamore Ridge Ceramics Studio does not and shall not discriminate based upon race, religion (creed), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, marital status, or military status. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for our members.

Studio Policies

1. Membership fees are $70/month with a minimum 12-month commitment required.
2. Memberships begin on the 1st of each month. Payment is due on the 1st; payments on the 10th or later are subject to a $10 late fee.
3. Members have round-the- clock access to the studio. Non-members may only be in the studio during workshops or special events, or while briefly visiting members who are working in the studio. Members are responsible for any damage caused by their guests.
4. Studio doors and windows must remain locked at all times. Each member receives a personal code that unlocks the front door. Do not give out your code to any non-members, including family members. Doing so is grounds for dismissal from the studio and cancellation of membership.
5. Children under 18 are not allowed in the studio unless a current member is present and supervising them at all times.
6. Members must adhere to all health and safety protocols, including COVID protocols, as communicated by email by the owner.
7. We do not offer Open Studio hours for non-members.
8. Adults age 18 and above who are capable of working independently in a clay studio are eligible to apply for membership.
9. Each studio space is for the exclusive use of the members who are assigned to that space.
10. If it is not yours, don’t touch it, especially unfired ware but also individually owned tools, equipment, furniture, and supplies.
11. All studio tools and supplies must be cleaned and put back where they belong immediately after use. Studio tools, equipment, furniture, and supplies may not be taken out of the studio.
12. Closed-toe shoes are required in and around the studio buildings and grounds at all times.
13. Kiln space is reserved for members. We do not sell kiln space to non-members.
14. Only members who have been trained may load or unload the kilns. Other members may not touch the kilns.
15. Kilns are to remain closed when they are not in use;  never place any objects on top of a closed kiln.
16. The member in charge of shared glazes will provide instructions for their care and use. All other members are responsible for adhering to these guidelines.
17. Members who wish to use their own glazes must have them approved by one of the kiln team.
18. Firings are done weekly, as needed. We plan to do one bisque kiln and one glaze kiln firing each week, if there is a sufficient amount of work to fill the kiln. We bisque-fire to cone 04 and glaze fire to either cone 5 or cone 6.
19. All work must be marked clearly with the maker’s name, initials, or other unique symbol. Unmarked items will not be fired.
20. Items marked with non-member names, initials, or marks will not be fired. Placing non-member ware in the queue for firing is grounds for dismissal from the studio and cancellation of membership.
21. All members are invited to participate in any sales that are held at the studio. 25 percent of sale proceeds go to support the studio and 75 percent go to the maker.
22. Instructors for workshops are chosen from among studio members and friends.
23. We’re all in this together. Please help keep the studio and grounds clean, free of trash and debris, and looking as beautiful as possible!
24. No smoking is allowed inside the SRCS buildings. Smoking is allowed outdoors
25. Pets are not allowed in the SRCS with the exception of the owner’s dog.
26. Unclaimed items left in the studio for longer than 30 days will become the property of the studio and may be discarded. This includes finished ware, clays, glazes, tools, and other personal items.
27. Clay Studio members should be considerate of the inherent rules associated with space sharing, i.e. no loud music, voice volume to be held at a reasonable level, respect for other members’ personal space and need to be left alone to work and produce art. All work spaces, including floors, should be left as clean or cleaner than when you found them.
28. Clay Studio members may not paint walls or make permanent changes to the ceramics space unless arrangements have been made with the owner.