These Terms and Conditions set out the terms on which Community Clay Studio Manchester CIC (the “Company”) provides the Services and allows a person to become a Student or a Member of the Studio. These Terms and Conditions apply to all Students and Members of the Studio and to all applications for Courses or Membership of the Studio.
Please review these 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 Student or a Member of the Studio or apply to become a Student or Member of the Studio. In the Terms and Conditions the following definitions apply:
“Course” means any timetabled, taught class or set of classes for Students;
“Class” means any individual period or portion of a Course.
“Student” means any person who is attending a Course;
“Member” means any person whose application for Studio Membership has been approved by the Company;
“Membership” means membership of the Studio which carries with it the benefits and obligations set out in these Terms and Conditions;
“Notice Period” means the notice period set out in the terms relevant to the contract option chosen by the Member. The default notice period (where another period is not stated) is 1 calendar month to expire no earlier than the end of the Minimum Membership Period;
“Session” means any 3-hour Members’ studio access period;
“Company” means Clay Studio Manchester Ltd;
“Studio” means the Company’s studio at 61 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5RF.
“Terms and Conditions” means these terms and conditions.
“Week” means the period running from 00.01 on a Monday morning to 23.59 on the following Sunday evening.
References in the Terms and Conditions to the singular will include the plural and vice versa and references to the masculine gender will include references to the feminine gender and vice versa. These Terms and Conditions are incorporated into the Student and Membership Registration Form.
The Company may at any time modify these Terms and Conditions. We will notify you of any changes to these Terms and Conditions either 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.
You can review the most current version of our Terms and Conditions at any time by clicking on the “Terms and Conditions” link located at the bottom of the Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are familiar with the current Terms and Conditions. You are advised to check the above link on a regular basis.
membership
Membership only commences once an applicant has undertaken an initial assessment and induction session and the application has been approved by the company.
Members must be over the age of 18.
Fees
This is a rolling contract at £80 per month (with a minimum of 2 months). A notice period of 30 days is required to terminate the contract. Paid by Direct Debit.
Occasionally the company may make discounts or special offers. Once the offer period is up the contract will revert to the rolling contract as above.
Membership fees must be paid in accordance with these Terms and Conditions irrespective of whether or not the member uses the studio facilities.
Membership fees may be increased at the Company’s discretion. Members will be given at least 10 working days’ notice of any such increase.
Session booking
Session bookings can be made up to 12 hours in advance bearing in mind that they are made on a first come first served basis. Session cancellations must be made no later than 48 hours in advance for the session to be transferrable to another session later the same week. No unused sessions are transferrable from week to week.
Benefits
Membership gives you the following benefits:
• Access to the studio shared workspace and facilities for up to 4 sessions per week.
• Personal storage space of 75 x 47 x 40cm
• Access of house glazes, as part of the kiln hire service. Charged at £1.70 a litre.
• Access to a members rate kiln hire. Charged at 60p a litre for bisque and 90p a litre for glaze.
• On-site technical support, from technicians
• Opportunities to exhibit and sell work through internal and external events
Holidays
Clay Studio will be closed for a month over August (this is without charge) and a week over the Christmas period this is taken into account with the monthly fee.
Refunds
Membership refunds be will considered on a one to one basis.
Use of facilities
Members’ studio access sessions are 3-hour periods which start at 9.15am, 12.15pm, 3.15 and 6.15pm Monday to Thursday. 9.45, 12.45 and 3.45 Friday to Sunday.
Unused studio sessions will not be carried over from week to week.
Neither the company nor its staff are responsible for personal belongings or work being damaged, lost or stolen.
You are welcome to invite guests to see the studio as long as you give us prior notice. Only signed up members can use the space and any visitors can not participate in any use of the facility.
If you have any special requirements please let us know prior to or during your induction.
Clay
You can purchase clay by the bag directly from us or you can source it independently. If buying clay elsewhere you should make sure it can be fired to 1250oC or higher. As for all materials, clay must be checked and approved by a member of staff.
Glazes and firing
Externally sourced or self-made glazes must not be used in the studio until approved by a member of staff. In some cases a test-firing may be required to ensure there will be no damage to the kilns, kiln furniture or other members’ work.
Glazed work must be fired on a bat to prevent damage to the kiln furniture.
Members are liable for any damage to the kiln or furniture caused by poorly produced ware and applied glazes.
Technicians have the right to refuse firing items they deem to be unsafe.
Termination of Membership
A Member may cancel his Membership within 14 days of acceptance of his Membership by the Company on condition that he has not used the Studio and/or attended a Session or Class during such period. In order to cancel a Membership, the Member must provide written notice of cancellation to the Studio either by email or by letter hand delivered to a Studio employee 30 days before your contract is due to end.
A Member cannot cancel his Membership before the expiry of the minimum period of 2 months from the date of his initial payment for a month-to-month contract.
A Member may terminate his Membership by giving written notice to the Studio of no less than the Notice Period to expire prior to the end of the Minimum Membership Period.
The Company reserves the right to refuse access to the Studio, temporarily suspend or permanently terminate the Membership or refuse to renew the Membership of any Member whose conduct is or may, in the Company’s reasonable opinion; be injurious to the character of the Studio, or who breaches any of these Terms and Conditions (as amended from time to time), or where it would otherwise be in the best interests of the other Members of the Studio.
Anyone whose Membership is terminated by reason of breaching these Terms of Service shall immediately cease to be a Member of the Studio and shall not be entitled to any refund in respect of periods in relation to which he has already made payment. Any Member whose Membership is suspended shall not be entitled to any refund in respect of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Studio may terminate the Membership of any Member in the event that such Member fails to make payment of any sum due to the Studio within 14 days of the date such sum is due. In the event of termination by reason of non-payment, the balance of fees due for the remaining term of the Membership shall become immediately due and payable. Termination of these Terms and Conditions shall be without prejudice to any rights and obligations of the Studio and Member accrued and owed prior to the date of such termination.
Personal storage areas must be emptied by the day membership finishes. Any work being processed needs to be cleared within one week of membership ending. Any work remaining after one week will be thrown out unless otherwise arranged with a member of staff.
courses
Course fees will be paid on acceptance onto a course and prior to the start date of the course.
Course fees include the first 3kgs of finished, fired work. Additional work will be charged at the rate of £3 per kg.
Courses will be delivered at the times and dates specified in the course information or, for individual tuition, at the time of booking.
Courses will be delivered by the teacher(s) specified in the course information unless illness or other unforeseen circumstance causes them to be absent in which case a substitute teacher will be provided. In the event no substitute teacher can be found, an additional session will be provided or, if this is not possible, an appropriate refund made for the session(s) not delivered.
Students will have access to all the studio’s facilities appropriate to their course content.
Non-attendance of sessions or courses will not be refunded or substituted.
In the event a Student cannot attend part of a course, they may offer their place to a friend for those sessions. In such a case the friend would also be considered a Student and subject to these terms and conditions.
Cancellations and Refunds
Refunds will only be given as follows: If we receive a cancellation more than 7 days in advance, we will pay a refund of the course fee minus £5 administration charge. If we receive a cancellation with 7 days or less notification, we will only refund the course fee (minus £5 administration charge) if we manage to re-sell the booking. If we are unable to re-sell the booking we will charge the staffing costs.
All students and members will be subject to the following Health and Safety procedures.
Gift Vouchers
Gift vouchers can be used for any item on the website, however some codes work just on the private throwing tuition booking system or the main website checkout. If the desired purchase is different product than what it was purchased for the user will need to email us.
Refunds will be granted with a £25 administration fee.
health and safety
Before using the space all members must complete a full induction to the studio and sign an induction form confirming that they have understood the issues covered and agreeing to follow to the Health and Safety recommendations detailed in the members’ handbook. Members must also comply with any health and safety instructions given by company staff at any time.
The company reserves the right to suspend or cancel any membership or student contract if any of these conditions are not met.
The company cannot be held responsible for any injuries caused through the misuse of the studio or equipment.
Cleaning
Most of the materials used in ceramics are hazardous and some are toxic. To maintain acceptable Health and Safety standards it is essential that all members clean up thoroughly and co-operatively. We recommend you take at least 20 minutes at the end of your session to do so. You should clean all tools and equipment you have used, wipe down all surfaces using plenty of water and mop / wet vacuum the floor around your work area and any communal areas. Always wet clean any dry materials.
Any member who consistently fails to clean sufficiently or who does not wish to clean the studio after their sessions will be required to pay a 20% surcharge on their membership fee to pay for staff cleaning.
Members must not put clay into the two traps (one on wheels and the other in the sink) only the water/slop from the process from throwing. Clay should be reclaimed by yourself or disposed of in the waste bin.
Kiln usage
If a customer is found to have caused damage to the kilns (e.g. explosion or melt down) or other equipment through improper use they may be liable for costs of repair.