Membership at Brick Kiln Pottery offers the opportunity for potters to enjoy wonderful, superbly equipped studio space in the company of other artists and with the support and advice from expert staff.

Our aim is to furnish and maintain the Studio and its equipment to the highest standards and provide a safe and happy environment in which collaboration and relationships can thrive.

These terms and conditions are to ensure that we achieve that aim.

Membership

You will become a Member of the Studio when you have completed the online registration form, had your application for Membership accepted by email, and you have made payment for One four week period in advance.

Once this has happened, as a member, you will have agreed to the Company’s Terms and Conditions as outlined below:

Payments

Rolling contracts:  As of 1st January 2025, our memberships are on a 4 week rolling basis. The three memberships are:

‘Dabbler’ 3 hours per week (£85 for 4 weeks membership)

‘Addicted’ 6 hours per week (£150 for 4 weeks membership)

’Obsessed’ 12 hours per week (£260 for 4 weeks membership)

When setting up payment, please ensure you select ‘every 4 weeks, not every month.

A minimum commitment of 3 months is required for each membership at the start of your contract.

Termination of Membership

A period of 30 days’ notice is required to terminate your membership

Shared Contracts or Sub-lets

We do not allow shared contracts or sub-lets.

Included in the price

• The use of Brick Kiln Pottery equipment & tools (excluding kilns)

• Personal storage space. Space size depends on membership.

• In-house glazes - Usage will be monitored by technical staff. If it seems a member is using/requires a large amount of glaze, they may be requested to pay a small additional fee. This will be at the discretion of the studio manager.

• Members may use the studio for no more than their allocated hours each week. Members must clock in and out. Time cannot be accumulated and used later. 

• Kiln firings will be charged at £2/£500g. This will be rounded up to the nearest 500g. This will be payable by card transaction, at the time of collection. Larger, more obscure vessels may incur extra charge. This is at the discretion of the studio manager.

Holidays & time in lieu

We will not make refunds or reductions for holidays or time in lieu. 

Brick Kiln Pottery may choose to use discretion, in special circumstances, to allow a Member to suspend their membership for a period of not less than two months, on the condition that Brick Kiln Pottery is able to find someone to take the space. 

A retainer fee of £20 of the monthly membership fee will be payable by way of a reduced monthly fee for the period of suspension. 

Refunds

Brick Kiln Pottery will make no refunds on any membership contracts. 

Studio Opening Times

Opening times (as of 1st January 2025) will be detailed on the Website and will be updated from time to time. 

Brick Kiln Pottery reserves the right to vary opening times.  

You will be able to book your slots, in 3 hour blocks to make up the hours of your membership.

You can book up to 6 weeks in advance

Monday is initially a day the studio is closed. If we have enough members requesting Mondays we may decide to open, but we reserve the right to close the studio on occasional Mondays, in order to run classes and workshops for the wider public.

The Studio will be closed for two weekends a year during each of our bi-annual events (in which you will be invited to take part). Brick Kiln Pottery reserves the right to close the Studio for additional periods.

Use of facilities

A Member is entitled to use the Studio’s facilities during its opening hours subject to these Terms and Conditions. This entitlement is subject to the provision that Brick Kiln Pottery may, at any time, without notice, withdraw all or part of its facilities for any period or periods in connection with any cleaning, repair, alteration, or maintenance work or for any other necessary reasons.

The minimum age for membership is 18. The minimum age for attendance on a wheel throwing course is 18.  In the future we may run workshops designed for children/young people accompanied by a responsible adult.

Open Access Membership includes “fair usage” of glazes provided by the studio for use on pieces made in the Studio only. External glazes or self-made glazes must NOT be used in the studio unless with the prior written permission of Brick Kiln Pottery’s Studio Manager. This permission will only be granted after the glaze has been test-fired in collaboration with a company technician to ensure there will be no ensuing damage to the kilns or kiln furniture or other Member’s work.

Only pieces made in our studio may be fired in our kilns and will be charged at £2/500g for members. This price may be subject to change to reflect the true cost of firing.

All glazed pieces must be fired on a purpose-made firing tile to prevent damage to kilns from running glazes. Members are liable for any damage to the kiln shelves caused by irresponsibly applied glazes. Technicians will not fire items in which the glaze is deemed to have been applied too thickly. The base of your piece must have wax resist applied or be totally free of glaze. it is recommended that the Bottom 0.5cm are completely free of glaze.

Kiln usage

Members may not use the kilns at any time.  All firing will be carried out by a trained technician.

If a member is found to have caused damage to the kilns (i.e. explosion or melt down) or other equipment through improper use they may be liable for costs of repair.

Data protection

As a member of Brick Kiln Pottery, we will contact you with information related to the studio, your membership, shows, opening times, health and safety and best practice. We will keep your personal data safe and will not pass this on to any third party.

Sharing the space

Neither Brick Kiln Pottery nor Brick Kiln Pottery’s staff are responsible for personal belongings or any work getting damaged, lost or stolen. In a communal studio such as this, it is inevitable that there will occasionally be work that gets damaged. If you do decide to bring in your own glazes or any equipment into the studio this must be cleared first by a member of staff. Best practice should be adhered to at all times when working in the studio and respecting the space and work of other members is vital. Glazes will need to be able to be fired at our set firing temperature.

Personal storage

If you cease to be a Member, work in your personal storage area must be removed from the studio by the end of the day your membership finishes.

Clay sales

We have a fully stocked clay store (please ask staff). Only our store clays are allowed in the studio. If you have a special request for a certain clay, you will need to request this via email, and we may be able to order it in for you.

Cleaning

This is a communal work space and, to ensure that everyone has the best experience, it is essential that all Members and students clean their work space , wheel, equipment and tools completely at the end of their session. 

When you use the studio it is best practice to allow at least 15 minutes of cleaning where you have worked and in the communal areas. To avoid contamination and to keep the air clean, always wet clean any dry materials.

Wash up and wipe down the sink area after you have used it.  Leave it nice for the next people in.

*Please note your cleaning time must be carried out within your 3 hour slot.*

Guests

If you want to invite friends/family to see the space “briefly”, meet fellow members or staff this is fine. If you would like someone to be in the studio for more than 10 minutes and work alongside you on a project this must be agreed in advance with Brick Kiln Pottery’s management. As a rule, people are not allowed to use the studio unless they have signed up and anyone visiting must be supervised by an inducted studio member / staff at all times.  Children under 16 may not accompany Members during their working sessions and may not use any of the facilities unless on a specially allocated children’s event.

Parking/Travel

There is plenty of parking on the site.

Our studio address is: Brick Kiln Pottery, Station House, Station Lane, Hethersett, Norwich NR9 3AX

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Special requirements

If you have any special requirements, please let us know during your induction. We do have facilities for wheelchair users, including a lift and disabled men’s and women’s cloakrooms.

Security

The building is protected by a security cameras in all communal areas, and a burglar alarm. The burglar alarm will be programmed to activate once the facility is closed.  Members should be aware that if they try to enter the building before the opening time (9am) or leave after closing time (9pm), they may activate the alarm.

Health & Safety

Members must have a full induction of the studio before using the space. By signing the induction form, Members agree that they have understood everything covered in the induction. It is also important that everyone respects all Health & Safety regulations, signage, and Brick Kiln Pottery staff / members.

Members use the studio at their own risk will be aware of the inherent hazards of a studio environment, which include but are not limited to use of sharp tools and sharp edges, exposure to toxic materials, the dangers of using materials and equipment at high temperatures, and the risks associate with breathing silica dust.

Each Studio Member is required to read and follow the health and safety information outlined in the handbook and undergo a Health and Safety induction before they begin their Membership.

Each Member must comply with all health and safety instructions given by the staff at all times, including the COVID safety and hygiene requirements.

Each Member is required to keep all surfaces clean of clay and glaze and to clean all areas including the floor around his work station thoroughly before completing their Session. This is to minimise the risks to Members caused by breathing clay and glaze dusts.

In the interests of safety and hygiene, no crockery, glass or food are permitted in the work areas. 

Except for guide dogs, no Member’s pets are permitted in the Studio buildings.

Members must use the main entrance to the Studio when entering or leaving the Studio. In the event of a fire, Members are asked to make their way to the nearest available exit.

Smoking or vaping is forbidden in the Studio.

The main important points covered in the induction

Brick Kiln Pottery cannot be held responsible for any injuries caused through the misuse of the studio or equipment.

A full tour of the studio and facilities.

Members are responsible for cleaning their work benches, wheels, tools and equipment and putting them away, within their 3hr slot.

Members must use tools and equipment in a way that ensures their own health and safety and that of others.

Food should not be consumed in the work area.

Fire safety. Please be aware of our evacuation procedure.

Brick Kiln Pottery reserves the right to terminate a membership at any time if a member deliberately damages the facilities and equipment at the studio. The member responsible will be asked to pay for the damages or one month of membership fee will be retained.

Our aim is to provide a happy and pleasant environment for our members and we expect that all the members respect this.

We reserve the right to suspend or cancel any membership if any of the above points are not respected.

We may at any time modify these Terms and Conditions. We will notify you of any changes by emailing you and/or by posting a notice at the studio. By continuing to use the services after changes to these Terms and Conditions are made and notified to you, you agree to be bound by such changes. Please review the Terms and Conditions carefully and make sure that you understand them. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, you must not become a member of Brick Kiln Pottery.