No.
We do not offer drop in classes because we do not employ teachers full-time. We value skill-building and learning through immersion in the craft of ceramics. We prefer to teach you how to actually create from clay, from start to finish, rather than just paint a pre-fabricated mold. Our teachers are contracted to teach specific skills, methods, or themes at specific times they are available.
We do have “Open Studio” however, in order to use “Open Studio”, you must have taken a weekly class at our location. Why? Because every studio has it’s own set of studio rules and safety precautions and since Open Studio is not a guided instruction hour, we need to make sure YOU know our specific rules and are operating in our space safely and independently. Your monthly rent covers your storage, firing fee’s and use of all our facilities as well as discounts on classes, workshops, clay, tools and artwork in our gallery.
Yes! Practice makes better! In order to be eligible for Open Studio you must have been enrolled and completed or are currently enrolled in a weekly meeting class. At the same time, we are not a production facility. Please come to learn and try new things rather than focusing on making things for sale. Open studio time is available during open studio hours only (please check the schedule prior to coming). Open Studio is $10/hr, no half-hour options. Remember to consider the time it will take you to set up and clean up as well!
CCAC does offer a Firing Service to the public who are not participating in a class. We will fire your artwork based on the space it occupies in the kiln and the number of pieces. Find more info here.
The beginner tool kit generally includes a sponge, wire tool, pin tool, wood knife, wooden rib, aluminum rib, and large and small trimming tools. Most ceramic supply stores sell this beginner tool kit or something similar. CCAC has these in stock to sell to you! We recommend participants in classes have these tools. Beyond that point, students have enough experience to know what they like to use and usually develop a collection of “favorites.” Often additional tools can also be collected from thrift stores, antique shops, and more.
Yes! CCAC has a Monthly Ceramic Membership program for potters and clay sculptors who have already taken classes with us and are ready to explore on their own. Memberships consist of either a large cubby at $100/month or a 1/2 cubby at $75/month. Your monthly rent covers your storage, firing fee’s and use of all our facilities, discounts on artwork in the gallery/consignment shop, tools, clay, classes and workshops.
Members must still pay the open studio fee’s to use the space during open hours, which is $10/hr and must be purchased and reserved on our website.
Members are not subject to paying firing fee’s for any work produced in our center however, we are not a production facility so if you plan on making multiples of any form in amounts greater then 10, you will be charged additional firing fees per item, per firing.
Likewise, if you make work at home and wish to have it fired at our facilities you are subject to firing fee’s like the general public.
Yes! In fact, we request you use our clay bodies if you wish to use our firing services, or get written, prior, approval from our owner. We are a Cone 6 studio so we don’t allow low-fire (below Cone 1) or high-fire (Cone 10) clay bodies to mix with our recycle. If you have more questions about clay bodies, feel free to ask us!
CCAC fires a cone 06 bisque and a cone 6 glaze fire. The only exception is for those students in the Figurative sculpture Class -who use low-fire clay. And before you ask – We do not put greenware with low fire glazes in bisque kilns and we do not fire glazed work on stilts. So, make sure those bottoms are waxed!
Yes! CCAC has a Resident Artist Program with space for up to three working, studio artists. These artists should be interested in practicing and refining their craft in a public-facing environment. The Resident Artist Program is open to artists in all stages of their careers. CCAC will prioritize artists who have a demonstrated creative practice and are either emerging in their field or exploring new ideas or media. As a working residency, artists are expected to give back to the studio and contribute to the programs we offer. Artists must apply for residency and be able to commit to a year, with option to renew for up to five years. Resident artists must agree to lease terms and duties before being accepted into the program. To learn more, email us at [email protected]
Absolutely! The Send a Vet to Class program was created in lieu of our owner Deb’s fathers passing. Major David George Yarrington Sr. (USMC retired) passed in September 2021 due to Cancer. A very decorated Veteran, David instilled a real sense of Military pride in his daughter Debra and in honor of her father we have created the “Send a Vet to Class” program, which allows anyone to donate as little as $5+ to a private fund that will be used to pay for a Military member’s full class tuition upon registration. This fund will apply to any Active Duty, Retired, Veteran or Reserves Military member and applies to all the Armed Forces. Consider it a “pay-it-forward” scenario knowing all that our military does for our country! You can contribute to this fund anytime you like and your contributions remain anonymous. Military members need simply to “opt-in” for this benefit upon registration.
To learn more about our class policies, click here.
