Student F.A.Q

  • We do not currently have the facilities to offer payments in installments.

  • New courses usually go on sale 1 month before they start and are advertised a few weeks before. You can sign up to our newsletter to be notified when a batch of new courses is about to be released.

  • Once a place has been booked, the fees are non-refundable. However, if we are still able to sell your place to another student before the course starts, we’ll be happy to swap your place over and refund your fees. We’ll do our best, though you’ll understand we can’t make any promises.

  • If you miss a lesson on most courses, you can typically catch up in the next session. However, it is important to prioritize attendance in the first and final lessons as these often cover important information for getting started and completing projects. Unfortunately, it is not possible to attend a different course or make up for a missed class. To maximize your learning experience, it is essential to ensure that you can commit to attending all scheduled classes before enrolling in a course.

  • Unfortunately, we are unable to provide refunds or transfer you to a different course once a course has begun. This is because we are unable to sell your space to another student and recoup our costs. Please ensure that you are able to commit to the course before enrolling to avoid any issues.

  • We are unable to fire ceramics pieces that have been created outside of our studio due to the demands of our firing schedule. We prioritize the work of our members and class projects, and as a result, we are unable to accommodate external ceramics pieces.

  • As a beginner, you will start by learning to create basic shapes. However, you will eventually have a lot of freedom to pursue your own projects and interests.

    While you can make whatever you’d like, if you would like to make a plate, we have a limit of one plate per student due to the kiln surface area they occupy. If you are interested in creating a full dinner set, a studio membership may be a better option for you.

  • You will receive an email notification when your pots are ready for collection, which will generally be 2-3 weeks after your last class.

    Please remember to bring your own bags, boxes, and wrapping materials to transport your work as we do not provide these supplies.

  • It varies, depending on the type of class. For our 12 week courses, each lesson is three hours in duration, including a half-hour cleaning period at the end of each session. Cleaning and clay processing, including re-wedging and recycling, are important aspects of the pottery experience and all students are expected to participate in these activities.

  • An 8-piece kit and your clay is included in your class fee. There is a firing charge of $3 per pound for all pots that you create and wish to have fired. You will only be charged for the pots that you choose to have fired, allowing you the opportunity to practice your skills and decide which creations you want to preserve through the firing process.

  • We recommend wearing appropriate clothing and shoes as pottery can be quite messy. We have communal aprons available to borrow, but you are also welcome to bring your own, if you prefer.

  • The goal of our courses is to help you develop your ceramic skills and technique, rather than focusing on producing a large volume of pieces. We believe that it is more important for students to take home a few high-quality pieces that demonstrate their growth and improvement in skills. The number of finished pieces you can expect to bring home will vary depending on your personal abilities and artistic vision. Some students may prefer the efficient process of throwing on the wheel, while others may enjoy the more meditative process of creating detailed and sculptural works.

  • It is not permitted to bring your own clay, glazes, or other ceramic materials to our classes. If you are interested in experimenting with different clays or glazes, we recommend becoming a member of our studios, which will provide you with the opportunity to explore further. Please note that it is not possible to use terracotta or other earthenware in any of our studios.

  • While we do offer wheel-only classes, our general classes are designed to teach both hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques to all students.

    During most lessons, the group will be split in half, with one half working on the wheel and the other half working on hand-building projects. The groups will then switch so that everyone has the opportunity to practice both techniques.

    We organize our classes this way because hand building teaches skills critical to all aspects of pottery creation.

    You can find a list of our upcoming classes here.

  • All of our courses, with the exception of those advertised as advanced, are suitable for students of all levels and no previous ceramic experience is necessary. In fact, many of our students choose to take our courses more than once in order to refine their technique and receive guidance from a teacher, as well as for the social aspect of being part of a group learning experience. Please note that advanced courses are intended for students who have already completed a beginner/intermediate course or have some prior ceramic experience.

  • Our advanced throwing course is designed for potters who are proficient in basic throwing techniques such as wedging, centering, creating cylinders and bowls, and trimming. These techniques will not be covered in the course. Instead, the course will focus on advanced techniques like throwing larger pieces, lidded jars, teapots, and throwing off the hump. This course is intended for students who have already completed a beginner/intermediate course or have some prior ceramic experience.

  • It is not permitted to use our studio or equipment outside of your scheduled class hours.

    If you are interested in continuing your practice outside of your classes, you may purchase a membership here which allows you to use our studio for up to 15 hours per week.

  • It is not permitted to bring pets or additional people with you to the studio when taking a class.

  • Students enrolled in MUD classes can only use the studio during the designated class times. If you're interested in using the studio outside of class times, we recommend becoming a member.

    As a member, you'll have more flexible access to the studio and the opportunity to practice and develop your skills between classes. Combining class enrollment with membership is a great way to maximize your progress in ceramics.

  • Yes, you can certainly book a class for someone else as a gift or surprise. When you sign up for the class, simply enter the name and email of the person who will be attending.

    If you'd like to keep the class a surprise until a later date, you can use your own name and email for the registration and then let us know when it's okay to contact the recipient.

    If you’d like a gift certificate to give to someone for a special occasion, purchase the class with your name and email, and then contact us - we’ll send you a gift certificate via email.

  • Unfortunately, we are unable to offer make-up classes for missed sessions. This is because our courses tend to fill up quickly and it can be difficult to accommodate students moving between classes.

    If you do happen to miss one or two sessions, you should be able to catch up with the material in the following week.

    We recommend that you only enroll in a course if you are able to commit to attending all but one or two of the sessions. It's especially important to attend the first three sessions so you can get a good start on learning the techniques. If you have any concerns about your ability to attend all of the sessions, please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your options.

  • Please note that our courses are non-refundable. We strongly recommend that you carefully consider your availability before enrolling in a course to ensure that you are able to attend all of the sessions. If you have any doubts about your ability to commit to the full course, please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your options.

  • At this moment, we aren’t set up to offer classes for children under the age of 16.

    If you’re looking for a class for a child younger than 16, we recommend you reach out to Burnish Clay Studio.