MARIN POTTERY — STUDIO POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Operated by Parent Company: Studio 4 Art, LLC (DBA Marin Pottery)

Location: 1133 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945

Contact Email: info.marinpottery@gmail.com

Welcome to Marin Pottery! By registering for classes, workshops, camps, drop ins, or participating in events, you agree to the following terms, policies, and studio usage rules.

1. REGISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY

  • System Booking: All classes, workshops, camps, and open studio sessions must be booked and paid for in advance through our online booking system. Staff cannot process manual or verbal registrations.

  • Age Requirements: Participants must meet the minimum age requirements specified for their enrolled session by the start date. Marin Pottery reserves the right to withdraw improperly registered students without a refund.

  • Program Changes: Instructors or program content may change at Marin Pottery’s discretion, without notice. Information on our online registration system should be considered the most up-to-date. Some programs and classes may have specific requirements and policies. Please visit marinpottery.org or contact email info.marinpottery@gmail.com.

2. ILLNESS POLICY

I will not attend or bring my child to any activity if I/he/she/them is showing any signs of illness or if someone in our household has signs of illness.

3. MEDICAL, ADAPTIVE, & SUPPORTIVE DISCLOSURES (OPTIONAL)

Sharing medical conditions, allergies, physical limitations, or adaptive learning needs is completely optional. However, if there are specific accommodations or insights that would allow our teaching artists to better support you or your child during class, please reach out to us prior to the session so we can ensure a safe and successful studio experience.

4. CLAY & GLAZE MATERIALS POLICY

  • Class & Workshop Students: To prevent catastrophic firing failures, students registered in structured classes, workshops, or camps must strictly use only the clay and glazes provided or purchased directly from Marin Pottery. No outside materials are permitted for instructional classes.

  • Studio Member Exception: Active studio members are permitted to bring in and use outside clay bodies and glazes, provided they meet the following mandatory criteria:

    1. All outside materials must be verified 100% lead-free.

    2. Materials must be precisely rated for the studio's designated firing temperatures (Cone ratings).

  • Member Financial Liability: Members who introduce outside materials assume complete financial risk and sole legal responsibility for the kiln elements, shelves, and other artists' work. If an outside clay body or glaze melts, causes an explosion, or damages a kiln, the member will be invoiced for the full cost of equipment repairs, replacement parts, and kiln technician labor.

5. THE TWO-WEEK ABANDONED POTTERY POLICY

Due to severely limited storage capacity in our downtown Novato facility, shelf space is strictly managed:

  • All ceramic work (greenware, bisqueware, and finished glazed pieces) must be finished, glazed, or collected within two weeks of its creation or firing completion.

  • Any pottery or personal property left unclaimed beyond this two-week window automatically becomes the property of Marin Pottery/Studio 4 Art, LLC and will be recycled or discarded without notice.

6. MINOR SAFETY & PICK-UP WINDOWS

  • Drop-off & Pickup: Marin Pottery is not an open childcare facility and is not responsible for minor students before or after their designated class times. Parents or guardians must drop off and pick up promptly at the studio entrance.

  • Late Pickups: Chronic lateness at pickup creates staffing issues and may result in the student's removal from the program without a refund.

7. CANCELLATIONS & REFUND POLICIES

  • Classes and Workshops (User-Initiated): All registrations for session-based classes, single workshops, and special events are entirely non-refundable. No refunds or makeup classes are available for students who miss a scheduled class.

  • Camps: If you need to cancel a camp registration, a refund (minus a $100 non-refundable deposit) will only be issued if we are able to find another camper to fill your child's space. If the spot cannot be filled from our waitlist, the entire registration fee is non-refundable.

  • Low-Enrollment Studio Cancellations: Minimum enrollment numbers change depending on the specific class and instructor. In most cases, Marin Pottery will cancel classes with 0–3 enrollments, and we will notify you via phone and/or email. Students from cancelled classes may be transferred to another class free of charge. For classes with exactly 3 enrollments, classes will run for one week plus a day before a final cancellation decision is made, after which a pro-rated refund will be issued. Please note that cancellation policies vary for some unique classes.

  • Instructor Illness / Emergencies: In the event of an instructor illness or family emergency, Marin Pottery will strive to provide a qualified substitute rather than cancel a class whenever possible.

  • Medical Exceptions: Pro-rated studio credits or refunds for missed sessions due to emergency illness or severe medical complications will only be evaluated if a formal written request is submitted alongside a verified physician's note.

8. BIRTHDAY PARTY POLICY

  • A 30 day notice of cancellation is required to receive a full refund minus the $50 processing fees.

  • 20-29 days prior to party, 50% of party fee will be refunded.

  • No refund less than 7 days notice.

  • Changing party dates will result in an additional $25 transfer fee, must be done no later than 14 days prior to original party date and is subject to availability.

  • In the event that Marin Pottery cancels the party date, you will receive a full refund.

  • A party fee covers the art project(s) the use of the party room and instructor(s). Should you arrive early or stay later than 15 minutes beyond your above stated party time, you will be charged accordingly, $25 per 15 minutes or fraction there of.

9. LEGAL TERMS, LIABILITY WAIVER, & MEDIA RELEASE

By registering for classes, workshops, camps, drop ins, or participating in events I agree:

  1. Representation of Legal Capacity: I represent that I am either an adult participant (18 years of age or older) or the legally appointed parent/guardian of the minor participant named above. I certify that I possess the full legal authority to execute this binding contract and agree to hold harmless Marin Pottery on behalf of myself, the participant, and our respective heirs, executors, and assigns.

  2. Pottery Studio Specific Risk Disclosure: I explicitly acknowledge that ceramics, pottery throwing, handbuilding, and glazing involve inherent physical risks. These occupational and recreational hazards include, but are not limited to:

    • Punctures, cuts, or abrasions from sharp metal carving tools, loop utensils, wire cutters, and modeling blades.

    • Severe thermal burns from contact with high-temperature electric kilns operating up to 2250°F, hot clay bodies, molten glaze material, or melted wax resists.

    • Physical trauma or entanglement from moving mechanical parts on electric pottery wheels, kick wheels, and heavy mechanical slab rollers.

    • Slips, trips, and falls on studio floors slicked with water, clay slip, slurry, or glaze drippings.

    • Respiratory exposure or chemical contact from airborne crystalline silica clay dust and toxic or caustic chemical compounds present in raw glaze suspensions.

  3. Full Liability Waiver and Hold Harmless Agreement: I, for myself and/or my minor child, hereby release, waive, and forever discharge Marin Pottery (along with its sister entity Studio 4 Art LLC), its owners, officers, instructors, and employees from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of ordinary negligence, accidental injury, illness, or equipment failure during participation in any studio programs or open studio hours.

  4. Emergency Medical Treatment Consent: In the event of an emergency or acute medical event where I (or my designated emergency contacts) cannot be reached immediately, I authorize the staff of Marin Pottery to secure professional emergency medical care or ambulance transport for the participant. I agree to assume complete financial responsibility for all medical costs incurred.

  5. Photo and Promotional Media Release: I grant Marin Pottery the right to capture photographs, audio, or video recordings of the participant and their artwork during studio operations. I agree that these assets may be utilized for marketing, social media channels, print media, and website promotion without any financial compensation. (To opt out of the photo release, contact the studio directly.)