Open Pottery Studio
Read the information below to learn more and register online.
Unleash your creativity in our new open pottery studio!
What is it?
Our Open Pottery Studio is located in the basement of the Acanthus Gallery. It's an open space for potters to work on their pottery creations, whenever they are able to drop in during operating hours. Potters will be given clay and glazes to use, as well as access to all our studio tools. We want your creativity to shine, and for you to have the ability to make some beautiful pieces!
This is not a pottery class, and there are no instructors in our Open Studio - this is a place where potters can get creative in their own time and practice what they have learned in pottery classes. For this reason, we require participants to have at least some prior pottery experience to register.
Interested, but new to clay? Click here to check out our upcoming workshops designed for beginners! This will help you gain some experience before you move on to the Open Studio.
Schedule
The Open Studio will be open during the normal operating hours of the Gallery on Fridays, as well as for a few hours in the evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays. At least one Gallery attendant will be present during these times if you require assistance or have questions.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays (evening hours): 6:00pm - 9:00pm
• Fridays (daytime hours): 10:00am - 4:30pm
Location: Galerie Acanthus Gallery – 136 Church Street, Grand Falls, NB (enter by side door)
Fee: $175
June promotion fee: $148.75 (ends July 1)
Promotion for those aged 65+: $122.50
• Discount code at checkout: STUDIO65 (proof of age required when entering studio for first time)
What's included:
• 12 hours of access to the Open Studio for the month
• 10 kg of clay
‣ An additional 10 kg of clay can be purchased for $38 extra
• Use of studio tools (slab roller, pin roller, banding wheel, etc.)
• Glazes
• Bisque and glaze firings (these are done by Gallery attendants outside of Open Studio hours)
‣ Maximum number of pieces per firing cycle: 3 mid-sized pieces
• 2 square feet of shelf space in the studio
Guidelines & Important Information
By registering, you acknowledge and agree to follow these guidelines. Please take the time to review them carefully.
Refund policy: During promotional sales, all workshop registrations are final sale. No refunds are available on discounted rates. A full refund can be made, but only at the non-discounted rate.
Experienced potters only:
This is not a pottery class. Our Open Studio includes access to both handbuilding and wheel‑throwing areas, but there are no instructors on site. There are attendants that can help you with questions or concerns, but this does not include instruction. Participants must thus have some prior pottery experience to register.
If you have taken a pottery class at the Gallery before, you automatically qualify. Experience from outside the Gallery is also sufficient, so long as you can demonstrate basic pottery skills in hand-building or wheel-throwing.
Age limit:
Our Open Studio is designed for adults, but we’re happy to welcome young potters 12 years and older who already have experience in handbuilding or wheel‑throwing and can work safely on their own. Since this is not a class, participants must be comfortable working independently.
Cleaning up:
Clean-up is mandatory in the Open Studio. Clean-up must start at least 20 minutes before your session ends, especially if you plan to stay until closing time.
• Participants are responsible for cleaning their wheel, tools, splash pans, work surfaces, and surrounding floor area.
• Workstations must be left in the same condition in which they were found.
• Repeated failure to follow clean-up procedures may result in loss of open studio privileges.
Use of hours:
For the month you paid for, you have 12 hours of access to the Open Studio, whenever you decide to drop by during operating hours. Access begins on the first Open Studio day following registration, and is valid for one full month thereafter. There will be a sign-in/sign-out sheet at the studio to track your hours. Unused hours do not carry over to the next month, and must be used within the month that is purchased.
Wheel use:
Open studio participants must reserve a wheel in advance due to our limited number of wheels. There will be an in-person reservation sheet in the studio.
• Each reservation is limited to one session (3 hours) per day.
• If all wheels are occupied, participants may be placed on a waiting list.
• Participants who are more than 10 minutes late may forfeit their reservation to the next person on the waiting list.
• Members may reserve one open studio session at a time for a spot on the wheel. Once a reserved session has been attended or cancelled, another reservation may be made. This policy helps ensure fair access to pottery wheels and studio space for all participants.
Non-transferability:
Your pass to the Open Studio is yours and yours only—it is not to be transferred to anyone else. Someone else cannot use the studio on your behalf.
Size of pieces:
Be mindful of the size of your pieces. The maximum size for any piece is 12 inches in width and 12 inches in height. Consult us if you wish to make a larger piece, we will try to be as accommodating as possible.
Outcome of pieces:
Pottery has a mind of its own, and pieces may not turn out as expected. They may warp, crack, or break during kiln firings. The Gallery is not liable if this happens. Gallery attendants also reserve the right not to fire pieces that are deemed unsafe for the kiln.
Respect for others:
Do not move, touch, trim, glaze, or alter another participant's work without permission.
Register
Click here to redirect to the page for online registration.
You can also register in person at Galerie Acanthus Gallery.
136 Church St, Grand Falls, NB